Which place is cheaper, Montreal or Kingston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Kingston or Montreal?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Montreal, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Kingston or Montreal?
Kingston
Kingston is Jamaica's capital city with a population of about 579,000. For being located on an island, Kingston is a very large city with several different zip codes. Not only is Kingston the cultural capital of the country, but also the commercial one as well.
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 Train & Rail Tours in Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.
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Kingston Prices
Jamaica PricesMontreal Prices
Canada Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $125Montreal $228
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $125, while the average daily cost in Montreal is $228. 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 Kingston and Montreal in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $63Montreal $128
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $126Montreal $256
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Montreal
Looking for a hotel in Kingston 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: Kingston Hotel Prices and Montreal Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $29Montreal $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- Montego Bay: 5-Day Jamaica Tour with Meals and Transfers: $2,200
- From Kingston Airport: One Way Private Transfer to Ocho Rios: $319
- Private Transfer from Montego Bay Cruise Port to Kingston Hotels: $261
- Private Transfer from Kingston Airport (KIN) to Montego Bay Port: $261
- Norman Manley Airport Private Round-trip Transfer to Kingston: $259
- Group Private Kingston Airport Transfers (10 - 15 Persons): $251
- Port Antonio Hotel Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport(KIN): $235
- Kingston Airport Private Transfer to Moon Palace Jamaica Grande: $200
- Kingston Airport to & From Sandals Ocho Rios Transfer: $200
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport to Jewel Grande Montego Bay: $187
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport to Hilton Rose Hall: $187
- Airport Group Transfers-Kingston: $180
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montreal
Also for Montreal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 8 Passengers Transfer from or to Montreal Airport YUL to Montreal City Center: $216
- Departure Transfer Montreal to Montreal Airport by Limos or Bus: $155
- Departure transfer Montreal to Montreal Airport YUL by Car or SUV: $62
- Montréal Airport (YUL) to Montreal Hotels - Private Transfer: $69
- Montréal Airport (YUL) to Montreal hotel or port - Arrival Private Transfer: $68
- Montreal Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL in Luxury SUV: $174
- Montreal Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL in Luxury Van: $181
- Montreal hotels to Montréal Airport (YUL) - Private Transfer: $69
- Arrival Transfer from International Airport: $77
- Private Transfer To Ottawa From YUL Airport: $295
- Private Transfer from Montreal Airport to Ottawa: $208
- Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL: $70
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Montreal?
Prices for flights to both Montreal and Kingston 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 dayKingston $45Montreal $60
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$8.71
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montreal
For Montreal, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Bateau-Mouche Cruise with A La Carte Dinner Option: $70
- Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $74
- Montreal Mile End Food Tour: Bagels, Smoked Meat & Poutine: $84
- Guided Happy Hour Brew Tour in Montreal with Dinner: $86
- Montreal Mile End Food Tour: Bagels, Smoked Meat & Poutine: $86
- Jean-Talon & Little Italy Food Tour with 8 Tasting: $86
- Jean Talon Market & Little Italy Food Tour with 8 Food Tastings: $87
- Montreal Elite Mile End Food Tour: $97
- Jean-Talon Market & Beyond Locally Owned Food Tour: $98
- Montreal Mile End Food Tour with Bagel, Poutine & 7 Tastings: $99
- Montreal Mile End Guided Food Tour by Local Montreal Tours: $99
- Thai Cooking Class Focused on Sauces: $99
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $12Montreal $20
Tours and Activities in Kingston
Here are a few actual costs in Kingston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ATV Outback Adventure from Kingston: $288
- Art Walk, Bob Marley Museum Kingston City Tour: $130
- Bamboo Rafting and Boston Jerk Centre Tour in Portland Jamaica: $220
- Blue Mountain Bicycle Tour from Kingston: $231
- Blue Mountain Coffee Tasting & Farm Tour from Kingston: $150
- Blue Mountain Craighton Estate Coffee Tasting Tour / Devon House: $180
- Blue Mountain Waterfall and Sightseeing Ecotour: $200
- Blue Mountains Coffee Private Tour from Kingston: $180
- Bluehole, Dunn's River Falls and Port Royal all in one tour: $690
- Bob Marley Guided City Tour: $95
- Bob Marley Museum Entry Ticket: $30
- Bob Marley Museum Tour from Kingston Hotels: $120
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)$52
Tours and Activities in Montreal
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montreal.
- Old Town Walking Tour of History and Landmarks: $4.23
- Montreal City Highlights 3 Hour Walking Tour | Gratuity-Based: $5.00
- City Highlights Walking Tour | 3-Hour: $5.00
- Old Montreal Historical Downtown Self Guided Walking Tour: $9.75
- Art Center and Museum Audio Guided Tour: $12
- McCord Stewart Museum Entry Ticket: $16
- Musée des Hospitalières Entry & Digital City Tour: $17
- Montreal Science Centre Entry Ticket: $23
- Rabbis, Writers and Radicals Jewish History Tour: $23
- Making their Mark Jewish History Walking Tour: $23
- Making Their Mark: Montreal Jewish History Walking Tour: $23
- Haunted Mountain Ghost Walking Tour: $23
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11Montreal $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Kingston
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kingston:
- Worthy Park Estate Rum Distillery Tour with Tasting: $144
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$18
Sample the Local Flavors in Montreal
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montreal:
- Montreal Distillery Tour and Spirit Tasting at Cirka: $18
- Haunted Pub Crawl: $25
- Guided Bar Crawl with Free Shots and Club Entry: $41
- Burlesque Dance Class: $47
- Guided Pub Crawl of the City's Skyline Bars: $84
- Montréal: Women in Wine Tour with Tastings and Snacks: $84
- Quebec Cheese and Wine Tasting: $94
- Experience the Flavors of Montérégie on a Guided Wine Tour: $283
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kingston and Montreal, we can see that Montreal is more expensive. And not only is Kingston much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kingston is in Caribbean Islands 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 Kingston would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kingston 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 Kingston.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kingston Expensive? and Is Montreal Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or Montreal?
Montreal has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Kingston. When comparing the sizes of Kingston 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 Kingston or Montreal?
Montreal has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Kingston experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Kingston or Montreal in the Summer?
Both Montreal and Kingston during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Montreal because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Kingston is a little warmer than Montreal in the summer. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Montreal fluctuates around 21°C (69°F).
In Montreal, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kingston. In the summer, Kingston often gets less sunshine than Montreal. Kingston gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 276 hours of full sun.
Kingston usually gets less rain in July than Montreal. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKingston 29°C (83°F)Montreal 21°C (69°F)
Should I visit Kingston or Montreal in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Montreal. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. Furthermore, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene are the main draw to Montreal this time of year.
In the autumn, Kingston is much warmer than Montreal. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kingston in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Montreal averages at about 8°C (47°F).
In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than Montreal during autumn. Kingston gets 229 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 141 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Kingston gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Kingston usually receives more rain than Montreal. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKingston 28°C (82°F)Montreal 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Kingston or Montreal in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Montreal. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Montreal for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Montreal. In January, Kingston is generally much warmer than Montreal. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 26°C (79°F), and Montreal fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In the winter, Kingston often gets more sunshine than Montreal. Kingston gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 103 hours of full sun.
Kingston usually gets less rain in January than Montreal. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKingston 26°C (79°F)Montreal -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Kingston or Montreal in the Spring?
Both Montreal and Kingston are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Montreal in the spring for the activities around the city.
Kingston is much warmer than Montreal in the spring. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 26°C (80°F) in April, and Montreal fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than Montreal during spring. Kingston gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 183 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Kingston usually receives less rain than Montreal. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKingston 26°C (80°F)Montreal 6°C (43°F)
Typical Weather for Montreal and Kingston
| Kingston | Montreal | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | -9°C (16°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 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.