Which place is cheaper, Montreal or Kuala Lumpur?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kuala Lumpur or Montreal?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Kuala Lumpur and Montreal. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Kuala Lumpur or Montreal?
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur, often referred to as KL, is the cosmopolitan capital of Malaysia. It is also the largest city in the country, having grown out of a small Chinese mining village. Today Kuala Lumpur is a microcosm of the country of Malaysia. The population is split between the Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures which you can see reflected in the city's neighborhoods, cuisine, and entertainment. It's also an incredibly affordable city, even if you're looking for the comforts of a five star hotel or a luxury restaurant. Prices are almost always a fraction of what you would pay in Europe or the United States.
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 Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Malaysia, The Best Train & Rail Tours in Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKuala Lumpur $62Montreal $210
The average daily cost (per person) in Kuala Lumpur is $62, while the average daily cost in Montreal is $210. 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 Kuala Lumpur and Montreal in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKuala Lumpur $36Montreal $132
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKuala Lumpur $72Montreal $264
Compare Hotels in Kuala Lumpur and Montreal
Looking for a hotel in Kuala Lumpur 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: Kuala Lumpur Hotel Prices and Montreal Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kuala Lumpur $6.45Montreal $21
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kuala Lumpur
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kuala Lumpur are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$3.16
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Metro Ride (for Two)$0.68
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Short Taxi Ride$3.16
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Taxi From Airport$19
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Bus from Airport$1.69
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Train & Boat to Pulau Ketam$2.53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kuala Lumpur
Also for Kuala Lumpur, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival Transfer from KLIA/KLIA2 to Penang: $270
- *Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Singapore Car Transfer: $268
- Cameron Highlands One Way Transfer: $259
- ~Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan Transfer [MPV]: $257
- Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Besut Transfer [Car]: $251
- Chauffeur: KLIA to Singapore Car Transfer: $238
- KUL Hotel to Johor Bharu(One Way Transfer): $237
- Marina Island Jetty/ Lumut Jetty Transfer From/To KLIA or Kuala Lumpur: $230
- Kuala Lumpur City Hotels to Singapore City Hotels 1-way Transfer: $230
- Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Desaru Transfer [Car]: $226
- Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Mersing Transfer [Car]: $225
- Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Cameron Highlands Transfer [Car]: $220
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 Kuala Lumpur or Montreal?
Prices for flights to both Montreal and Kuala Lumpur 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 dayKuala Lumpur $15Montreal $36
Typical Food Prices in Kuala Lumpur
For Kuala Lumpur, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner at Ding Tai Fung$8.44
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Roti Bread$0.21
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Food Court Lunch$3.04
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Dinner at Indian Restaurant (for Two)$4.54
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kuala Lumpur
For Kuala Lumpur, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- ARAS Restaurant at KL Tower Buffet Dinner: $29
- Nightlife Street Food Tour with 6 Tastings: $43
- Street Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $49
- Sambal Streets Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $49
- Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Cultural Night Experience with Buffet Dinner : $53
- From Kuala Selangor Fireflies Tour with Dinner: $53
- Cultural Night Tour with Dinner: $55
- Malaysia Cooking Classes: $60
- Kuala Lumpur by Night and Malaysian Food Tour: $61
- Eat Like a Local: Kuala Lumpur Hawker Center and Street Food Tour by Night: $62
- Petaling Street Heritage Food Tour: $63
- Private Food Tour – 10 Tastings with Locals: $64
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$9.04
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.Kuala Lumpur $13Montreal $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kuala Lumpur
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Kuala Lumpur's activities, tours, and tickets:
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KL Tower Admission (for Two)$9.49
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Canopy Walk at FRIM Forest Reserve$1.05
Tours and Activities in Kuala Lumpur
For Kuala Lumpur, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Adventure Sports & Thrilling White-water Rafting in Kampar River: $241
- Batu Caves And Countryside Tour: $24
- Full Day Kuala Lumpur City Tour with Petronas Twin Tower Tickets: $95
- Full Day Melaka Tour with The Shore Sky Tower 43rd Floor - Unesco Heritage: $188
- Historic And Heritage Melaka Tour: $55
- History, Heritage & Culture Of Malaysia Tour: $62
- Ipoh "The Land Of Grace" + Orang Utan Island +Lunch(Guided Tour): $241
- Kuala Lumpur (Genting Highlands 7.5 hours Private Tour): $65
- Kuala Lumpur Full Day City & Shopping Tour with Lunch (PRIVATE TOUR): $77
- Malacca Instagram Tour: Most Famous Spots (Private & All-Inclusive): $184
- Malaysia: Aquaria KLCC Entry Ticket: $13
- Shah Alam Islamic Arts and Culture Tours : $31
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)$54
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 dayKuala Lumpur $6.25Montreal $16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Kuala Lumpur
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Kuala Lumpur are as follows:
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Bottle of Wine$9.49
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:
- 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 Kuala Lumpur and Montreal, we can see that Montreal is more expensive. And not only is Kuala Lumpur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kuala Lumpur is in Asia 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 Kuala Lumpur would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kuala Lumpur 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 Kuala Lumpur.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kuala Lumpur Expensive? and Is Montreal Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kuala Lumpur or Montreal?
Montreal has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Kuala Lumpur. When comparing the sizes of Kuala Lumpur 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 Kuala Lumpur or Montreal?
Montreal has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Kuala Lumpur experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Montreal in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kuala Lumpur and Montreal. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kuala Lumpur year-round.
In July, Kuala Lumpur is generally a little warmer than Montreal. Daily temperatures in Kuala Lumpur average around 28°C (82°F), and Montreal fluctuates around 21°C (69°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montreal this time of the year. In Kuala Lumpur, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kuala Lumpur usually receives less sunshine than Montreal during summer. Kuala Lumpur gets 200 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 276 hours of full sun in the summer.
Kuala Lumpur gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Kuala Lumpur usually receives more rain than Montreal. Kuala Lumpur gets 150 mm (5.9 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 JulyKuala Lumpur 28°C (82°F)Montreal 21°C (69°F)
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Montreal in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Kuala Lumpur as well as Montreal. Kuala Lumpur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Kuala Lumpur is much warmer than Montreal in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kuala Lumpur averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Montreal fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
In the autumn, Kuala Lumpur often gets more sunshine than Montreal. Kuala Lumpur gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 141 hours of full sun.
Kuala Lumpur receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kuala Lumpur usually gets more rain in October than Montreal. Kuala Lumpur gets 280 mm (11 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 OctoberKuala Lumpur 27°C (81°F)Montreal 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Montreal in the Winter?
Both Montreal and Kuala Lumpur are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kuala Lumpur throughout the year.
The weather in Montreal can be very cold. In the winter, Kuala Lumpur is much warmer than Montreal. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kuala Lumpur in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Montreal averages at about -10°C (14°F).
Kuala Lumpur usually receives more sunshine than Montreal during winter. Kuala Lumpur gets 185 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 103 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Kuala Lumpur. In January, Kuala Lumpur usually receives more rain than Montreal. Kuala Lumpur gets 239 mm (9.4 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 JanuaryKuala Lumpur 27°C (81°F)Montreal -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Montreal in the Spring?
Both Montreal and Kuala Lumpur during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kuala Lumpur because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Kuala Lumpur is generally much warmer than Montreal. Daily temperatures in Kuala Lumpur average around 28°C (82°F), and Montreal fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).
In the spring, Kuala Lumpur often gets more sunshine than Montreal. Kuala Lumpur gets 199 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 183 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur usually gets more rain in April than Montreal. Kuala Lumpur gets 240 mm (9.4 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 AprilKuala Lumpur 28°C (82°F)Montreal 6°C (43°F)
Typical Weather for Montreal and Kuala Lumpur
| Kuala Lumpur | Montreal | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 239 mm (9.4 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | -9°C (16°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 280 mm (11 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 290 mm (11.4 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 250 mm (9.8 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.