A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Juneau vs. Montreal for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Juneau or Montreal?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Juneau or Montreal? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Juneau or Montreal?

Juneau

Juneau, Alaska is the capital city of the state, and it is also one of the most beautiful cities. Juneau is surrounded by two large mountains and a channel, so it is the only state capital not accessible by train or car. It is lined with small streets, including what is locally known as "stair streets" which can only be accessed by foot and include walking up 100-300 stairs, depending on which level you're going to. Luckily, most of the sights and stores are on the lower level, though. The only real structures located on the stair streets are residential buildings. Juneau is the most visited city in Alaska, but its population is just over 33,000. Its economy is based mostly on government, tourism, fishing, and mining.

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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, The Best Train & Rail Tours in Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Montreal or Juneau?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Juneau is $160, while the average daily cost in Montreal is $209. 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 Juneau and Montreal in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Juneau $88
    Montreal $131
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Juneau $176
    Montreal $262
Compare Hotels in Juneau and Montreal

Looking for a hotel in Juneau 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.

Hotels in Juneau


Hotels in Montreal


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: Juneau Hotel Prices and Montreal Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Juneau $38
    Montreal $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Juneau

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Juneau:

  • Private Arrival Transfer from Juneau Airport (JNU): $48
  • Private Departure Transfer to Juneau Airport (JNU): $48

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montreal

Also for Montreal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from Montreal Cruise Port to Montreal City: $36
  • Private Transfer: Montreal City Center to Pierre E.T. Airport-YUL: $48
  • Le Terminal Cruise Port to Québec Airport YQB Departure Transfer: $57
  • Private One-way Montreal Airport Transfer To/From Montreal: $58
  • Arrival Transfer from International Airport: $65
  • Transfer in private vehicle from Montreal CityCenter- to Montreal Airport (YUL): $67
  • Downtown Direct: Montreal's Exclusive Airport Transfer: $79
  • Montreal Best Private Transfer services : $82
  • Private Transfer: Montreal to Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (YUL): $87
  • Private Departure Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL: $116
  • Montreal Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL in Business Car: $117
  • Departure Private Transfer: Montreal to Montreal Airport YUL in Business Car: $117

Is it cheaper to fly into Juneau or Montreal?

Prices for flights to both Montreal and Juneau 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Juneau $49
    Montreal $36

Typical Food Prices in Montreal

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Montreal:


  • Tim Hortons breakfast and coffee
    $8.97

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montreal

For Montreal, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Cooking Class and Tasting Menu with Michelin Chef: $50
  • Le Bateau-Mouche À La Carte Menu Dinner Cruise: $58
  • 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
  • Montréal: 5-Course Dinner Cruise with Music & VIP Option: $160
  • Personalized Private Food Tour with a Local Foodie: $206
  • Cooking Class in Montreal with a Michelin-Star Trained Chef: $224

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Juneau $17
    Montreal $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Juneau

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Juneau are as follows:


  • 1 Day Bike Rental
    $25
  • Admission to Alaska State Museum
    $5.00
  • Glacier Gardens
    $22

Tours and Activities in Juneau

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Juneau are as follows:

  • 3 Hours Fishing Experience Class in Juneau: $225
  • 3.5 Hour Crowd-Skipping Whale Tour in Juneau Alaska: $189
  • Alpine Zipline Adventure in Juneau, AK: $245
  • Five-Star Juneau Pedicab Private Tour: $200
  • From Fly-In Norris Glacier Hike and Packraft Tour: $850
  • From Whale Watching Cruise with Snacks: $132
  • Historic Gold Mining and Panning Adventure: $99
  • Historic Gold Panning Adventure & Salmon Bake: $139
  • Juneau City Tour: $52
  • Juneau Underground Gold Mine and Panning Experience: $79
  • Juneau Whale Watching Adventure: $189
  • Juneau, The Last Frontier Self Guided (Smart Phone App/GPS) Audio Walking Tour: $6.75

Typical Entertainment Prices in Montreal

For Montreal, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Botanical Gardens (family of 4)
    $53

Tours and Activities in Montreal

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montreal.

  • First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
  • Montreal self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $4.28
  • Montréal's Mile End to Outremont: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
  • Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $7.49
  • Escape Game and Tour: $8.56
  • APP Self-Guided Tours Montreal with Audioguide: $8.74
  • Montreal Art Center & Museum Audio Guided Tour: $10
  • McCord Stewart Museum : Entry Ticket: $15
  • Montreal Zipline Adventure: $15
  • Self-Guided Old Town Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour: $15
  • Montreal Old Port: Urban Zipline Ticket: $16
  • Making Their Mark: Montreal Jewish History Walking Tour: $22

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Juneau $16
    Montreal $16

Typical Alcohol Prices in Montreal

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Montreal:


  • Vodka
    $18

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 Juneau and Montreal, we can see that Montreal is more expensive. And not only is Juneau much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Juneau would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Juneau 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 Juneau.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Juneau Expensive? and Is Montreal Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Juneau or Montreal?

Montreal has a larger population, and is about 110 times larger than the population of Juneau. When comparing the sizes of Juneau 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 Juneau or Montreal?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Juneau or Montreal in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Juneau as well as Montreal. The hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Juneau this time of year.

In the summer, Juneau is much colder than Montreal. Typically, the summer temperatures in Juneau in July average around 56°F (13°C), and Montreal averages at about 21°C (69°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montreal. In the summer, Juneau often gets less sunshine than Montreal. Juneau gets 179 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 276 hours of full sun.

Juneau receives a lot of rain in the summer. Juneau usually gets more rain in July than Montreal. Juneau gets 4.2 inches (106 mm) of rain, while Montreal receives 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Juneau 56°F (13°C) 
    Montreal 21°C (69°F)

Should I visit Juneau or Montreal in the Autumn?

Both Montreal and Juneau are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Juneau for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Juneau is generally cooler than Montreal. Daily temperatures in Juneau average around 42°F (6°C), and Montreal fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

Juneau usually receives less sunshine than Montreal during autumn. Juneau gets 69 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 141 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Juneau. In October, Juneau usually receives more rain than Montreal. Juneau gets 7.8 inches (199 mm) of rain, while Montreal receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Juneau 42°F (6°C) 
    Montreal 8°C (47°F)

Should I visit Juneau or Montreal in the Winter?

Both Montreal and Juneau during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Juneau in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Montreal can be very cold during winter. Juneau can get quite cold in the winter. Juneau is much warmer than Montreal in the winter. The daily temperature in Juneau averages around 24°F (-4°C) in January, and Montreal fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).

In the winter, Juneau often gets less sunshine than Montreal. Juneau gets 87 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 103 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Juneau. Juneau usually gets more rain in January than Montreal. Juneau gets 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain, while Montreal receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Juneau 24°F (-4°C) 
    Montreal -10°C (14°F)

Should I visit Juneau or Montreal in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Juneau and Montreal. Most visitors come to Juneau for the natural beauty during these months.

Juneau can be very cold during spring. In the spring, Juneau is cooler than Montreal. Typically, the spring temperatures in Juneau in April average around 40°F (4°C), and Montreal averages at about 6°C (43°F).

Juneau usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Montreal during spring. Juneau gets 185 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 183 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Juneau usually receives less rain than Montreal. Juneau gets 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain, while Montreal receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Juneau 40°F (4°C) 
    Montreal 6°C (43°F)

Typical Weather for Montreal and Juneau

Juneau Montreal
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 24°F (-4°C) 4.6 inches (116 mm) -10°C (14°F) 74 mm (2.9 in)
Feb 28°F (-2°C) 3.7 inches (94 mm) -9°C (16°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)
Mar 33°F (0°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm) -2°C (28°F) 74 mm (2.9 in)
Apr 40°F (4°C) 2.7 inches (68 mm) 6°C (43°F) 78 mm (3.1 in)
May 47°F (8°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm) 13°C (55°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Jun 53°F (12°C) 3.1 inches (80 mm) 18°C (64°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
Jul 56°F (13°C) 4.2 inches (106 mm) 21°C (69°F) 91 mm (3.6 in)
Aug 55°F (13°C) 5.3 inches (135 mm) 19°C (67°F) 104 mm (4.1 in)
Sep 49°F (10°C) 7 inches (179 mm) 14°C (58°F) 90 mm (3.5 in)
Oct 42°F (6°C) 7.8 inches (199 mm) 8°C (47°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)
Nov 32°F (-0°C) 4.9 inches (123 mm) 2°C (35°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Dec 27°F (-3°C) 4.4 inches (113 mm) -7°C (20°F) 99 mm (3.9 in)