Which place is cheaper, Montreal or Helsinki?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Helsinki or Montreal?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Helsinki and Montreal can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Helsinki or Montreal?
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital of Finland and dates back to 1550. Helsinki is an international metropolis with a diverse population, but also a small town vibe. The city itself has a population of just over 600,000 but the metropolitan area, including Espoo and Vantaa, has a population of more than 1.3 million. There are many outdoor bars and cafes that take advantage of the warmer summer months. During this time there are long days, and the population floods into the street after a long and cold winter, so visiting during the summer is a fun and lively experience.
Montreal
While Quebec City is the political capital of Quebec Province, Montreal is the economic and cultural capital. It's also the second largest city in Canada, with a population of about 1.9 million and 4 million in the metropolitan area. It's the second largest French speaking city in the world behind Paris.
Montreal is a very trendy and vibrant city with an active nightlife and countless activities to enjoy. It's located on an island in the St. Lawrence River and has a humid continental climate. There are four distinct seasons. Summers are warm or hot and humid. Spring and fall are mild and winters are cold and snowy. You can expect about 2 meters of snow every year, but there are also more than 2,000 hours of sunshine annually.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Finland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Finland, The Best Train & Rail Tours in Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHelsinki €139Montreal €195
The average daily cost (per person) in Helsinki is €139, while the average daily cost in Montreal is €195. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Helsinki and Montreal in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHelsinki €73Montreal €123
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHelsinki €146Montreal €246
Compare Hotels in Helsinki and Montreal
Looking for a hotel in Helsinki or Montreal? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Helsinki Hotel Prices and Montreal Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Helsinki €22Montreal €19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Helsinki
Also for Helsinki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private City Highlights Tour with Transfer: $743
- Guided Tallinn Day Tour from Helsinki / Include hotel transfers: $218
- Helsinki Private Transfer: $158
- VIP Airport transfers in Helsinki region: $152
- PRIVATE Helsinki VIP Transfer: $147
- VIP Transfer HELSINKI: $147
- Helsinki Airport (HEL): One-Way Transfer to/from Helsinki: $145
- Helsinki Stopover Tour with Round-Trip Airport Transfers: $140
- VIP Transfer Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to city in a Porsche Taycan: $137
- Helsinki Airport VIP Transfers: Exclusive Comfort&Efficiency: $135
- Helsinki Airport (HEL): Transfer to Helsinki Cruise Terminal: $130
- Private transfer from Helsinki Airport with Meet & Greet: $129
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montreal
Also for Montreal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer in private vehicle from Montreal CityCenter- to Montreal Airport (YUL): $67
- Private Transfer: Montreal to Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (YUL): $87
- Private Transfer: Montreal City Center to Pierre E.T. Airport-YUL: $48
- Private Transfer from Montreal Cruise Port to Montreal City: $36
- Private One-way Montreal Airport Transfer To/From Montreal: $58
- Private Departure Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL: $116
- Arrival Transfer from International Airport: $65
- Montreal Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL in Luxury SUV: $163
- Montreal Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL in Business Car: $117
- Montreal Best Private Transfer services : $82
- Le Terminal Cruise Port to Québec Airport YQB Departure Transfer: $57
- Downtown Direct: Montreal's Exclusive Airport Transfer: $79
Is it cheaper to fly into Helsinki or Montreal?
Prices for flights to both Montreal and Helsinki change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayHelsinki €34Montreal €34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- FOOD Tour with Rooftop Bar Visit in Helsinki: $107
- FOOD Tour with Roof Top Bar in Helsinki: $108
- Helsinki Food Tour Including Tastings: $164
Typical Food Prices in Montreal
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Montreal:
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Tim Hortons breakfast and coffee€8.39
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montreal
For Montreal, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Le Bateau-Mouche À La Carte Menu Dinner Cruise: $59
- No Diet Club: Walking food Tour with many tastings: $59
- Beyond the Market Food Tour by Spade & Palacio: $74
- Montreal Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $74
- Old Montreal Food & Drink Tour by Local Montreal Food Tours: $103
- Cooking Class and Tasting Menu with Michelin Chef: $130
- Montréal: 5-Course Dinner Cruise with Music & VIP Option: $160
- Personalized Private Food Tour with a Local Foodie: $207
- Cooking Class in Montreal with a Michelin-Star Trained Chef: $224
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Helsinki €27Montreal €20
Tours and Activities in Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Helsinki Highlights Tour: the Top Sightseeing Spots: $142
- 2-Hours Private Modern Boat Tour in Helsinki Archipelago: $284
- 3 Hours Helsinki Stopover Tour from Airport: $98
- A Finntastic Walking Tour in Helsinki: $21
- A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Helsinki's Historical Highlights: $7.99
- All-in-One Helsinki Shore Excursion for Cruise Ships: $1,049
- CITY Tour with Food Tasting in Helsinki: $107
- CITY Tour with Food Tasting in Helsinki: $163
- City Sightseeing Helsinki Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $37
- Cozy Guided City Tour: Helsinki & Porvoo: $97
- E-Bike rental / Self-Guided tour to Seurasaari: $52
- First Time in Helsinki Tour: $334
Typical Entertainment Prices in Montreal
For Montreal, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Botanical Gardens (family of 4)€50
Tours and Activities in Montreal
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montreal.
- 1 Hour Downtown Montreal Tour: $29
- 2 hour Tour of The Montreal Bagel: $44
- 3 Days 2 Nights Tour in New York: $300
- 3-Hour Scooter Sightseeing in Montreal: $79
- 3Hr Montreal Architecture Bike Tour with regular or E-bikes Beer & wine included: $64
- APP Self-Guided Tours Montreal with Audioguide: $8.74
- All about Montreal's Murals - Saturday Walking Tour: $24
- Awesome Curling Experience : $82
- Best of Montreal Small Group Tour with River Cruise + Notre Dame: $211
- Beyond the Basilica Walking Tour by Spade & Palacio: $54
- Christmas Walking Tour in Old Montreal: $24
- City tour; afternoon in Montreal: $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHelsinki €16Montreal €15
Typical Alcohol Prices in Montreal
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Montreal:
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Vodka€17
Sample the Local Flavors in Montreal
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montreal:
- Haunted Montreal Pub Crawl: $22
- Guided Bar Crawl with Free Shots and Club Entry: $42
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Helsinki and Montreal, we can see that Montreal is more expensive. And not only is Helsinki much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Helsinki is in Europe and Montreal is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Helsinki would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Helsinki and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Montreal would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Montreal than you might in Helsinki.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Helsinki Expensive? and Is Montreal Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Helsinki or Montreal?
Montreal has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Helsinki. When comparing the sizes of Helsinki and Montreal, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Helsinki or Montreal?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Helsinki or Montreal in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Helsinki and Montreal. Many visitors come to Helsinki in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Helsinki is cooler than Montreal. Typically, the summer temperatures in Helsinki in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Montreal averages at about 21°C (69°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montreal this time of the year. In Helsinki, it's very sunny this time of the year. Helsinki usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Montreal during summer. Helsinki gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 276 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Helsinki usually receives less rain than Montreal. Helsinki gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHelsinki 17°C (62°F)Montreal 21°C (69°F)
Should I visit Helsinki or Montreal in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Helsinki as well as Montreal. Most visitors come to Helsinki for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In October, Helsinki is generally cooler than Montreal. Daily temperatures in Helsinki average around 6°C (42°F), and Montreal fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
In the autumn, Helsinki often gets less sunshine than Montreal. Helsinki gets 90 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 141 hours of full sun.
Helsinki usually gets less rain in October than Montreal. Helsinki gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHelsinki 6°C (42°F)Montreal 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Helsinki or Montreal in the Winter?
Both Montreal and Helsinki are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Helsinki because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Montreal in the winter. The weather in Helsinki can be very cold. Helsinki is much warmer than Montreal in the winter. The daily temperature in Helsinki averages around -6°C (21°F) in January, and Montreal fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).
Helsinki usually receives less sunshine than Montreal during winter. Helsinki gets 39 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 103 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Helsinki usually receives less rain than Montreal. Helsinki gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHelsinki -6°C (21°F)Montreal -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Helsinki or Montreal in the Spring?
Both Montreal and Helsinki during the spring are popular places to visit. The natural beauty are the main draw to Helsinki this time of year.
It's quite cold in Helsinki in the spring. In the spring, Helsinki is much colder than Montreal. Typically, the spring temperatures in Helsinki in April average around 3°C (37°F), and Montreal averages at about 6°C (43°F).
In the spring, Helsinki often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Montreal. Helsinki gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 183 hours of full sun.
Helsinki usually gets less rain in April than Montreal. Helsinki gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHelsinki 3°C (37°F)Montreal 6°C (43°F)
Typical Weather for Montreal and Helsinki
| Helsinki | Montreal | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -6°C (21°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | -9°C (16°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | -3°C (27°F) | 34 mm (1.4 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Apr | 3°C (37°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 9°C (49°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (60°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (51°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (42°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 1°C (33°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Dec | -4°C (26°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | -7°C (20°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.