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

Should you visit Lisbon or Montreal?

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

Should I visit Lisbon 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: Lisbon or Montreal?

Lisbon

Portugal's capital city of Lisbon continues to grow in popularity as a travel destination. The cultural scene has come to life in recent years and the city itself is stunningly beautiful. It sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and is made up of hills that create a dramatic and scenic layout. The city has many white-bleached limestone buildings, narrow alleyways, and a laidback charm that appeals to visitors.

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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Portugal, The Best 2-Week Tours in Portugal, The Best Train & Rail Tours in Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Montreal or Lisbon?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Lisbon is €131, 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 Lisbon and Montreal in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lisbon 58
    Montreal 123
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lisbon 116
    Montreal 246
Compare Hotels in Lisbon and Montreal

Looking for a hotel in Lisbon 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 Lisbon


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: Lisbon Hotel Prices and Montreal Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Lisbon 24
    Montreal 19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lisbon

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Lisbon:


  • Taxi Ride
    6.50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lisbon

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

  • Lisbon to Seville private transfer one way max 6 persons: $743
  • Full Day Tour - Transfer to Porto from Lisbon with Stops: $727
  • Full Day Tour - Transfer to Algarve from Lisbon with Stops: $673
  • Lisboa - Porto Private Transfer, with 2 visits on the way: $635
  • One-way Private Transfer to/from Lisbon Airport - Faro: $592
  • Lisbon Private transfer to Porto 1-Way Transfer max 6 person: $573
  • From the Algarve to Lisbon; Guided transfer with extra Wow!: $560
  • To/From the Lisbon Airport: Faro Private Transfer: $538
  • One-way Private Transfer to/from Lisbon Airport - Lagos: $538
  • One-way Private Transfer to/from Lisbon Airport and Portimão: $538
  • One-way Private Transfer to/from Lisbon Airport - Albufeira: $538
  • Porto: Private Transfer Between Porto City and Lisbon City: $537

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 Lisbon or Montreal?

Prices for flights to both Montreal and Lisbon 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
    Lisbon 42
    Montreal 34
Typical Food Prices in Lisbon

For Lisbon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Coffee
    2.50

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lisbon

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

  • Soirée Rivage - Sunset cruise with dinner and Party: $25
  • Hard Rock Cafe Lisbon with Set Lunch or Dinner : $28
  • Tapas Food Tour: $38
  • Fado Show and Portuguese Dinner: $48
  • Lisbon Food Tour: $53
  • Alfama Tour and Live Fado with Traditional Dinner: $54
  • 2-Hour Pastel de Nata Cooking Class: $54
  • Cooking Pastel de Nata with a glass of wine !: $54
  • Legendary Beer Dinner: $54
  • Pastel de Nata Cooking Class in Lisbon: $55
  • No Diet Club - Unique food tour in Lisbon with many Tastings: $62
  • Original Morning Food Tour: $64

Typical Food Prices in Montreal

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


  • 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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Lisbon 24
    Montreal 20

Tours and Activities in Lisbon

For Lisbon, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Óbidos - Nazaré - Mafra (National Palace of Mafra)Private tour from Lisbon: $217
  • 2-Hour Night Sailing Tour in Lisbon with a Drink: $49
  • Private Walking Tour - Wandering Around Lisbon: $93
  • Private day tour Serra da Estrela cheese factory bread museum: $210
  • Saint George Castle Guided Tour from Lisbon: $34
  • Sintra or Cascais Half-day Private Tour - The real portuguese essence!: $120
  • Street Art Walking Tour in Lisbon - Parque das Nações: $16
  • The Heart of Lisbon- History & coffee experience: $66
  • Évora & Arroiolos Small-Group Full Day Tour : $109
  • Évora Tour: $164
  • Évora Tour - Évora Town and Surroundings Private Tour: $244
  • Évora Unveiled: A Half-Day Discovery| Premium Private Experience : $109

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)
    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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Lisbon 18
    Montreal 15

Sample the Local Flavors in Lisbon

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lisbon:

  • Pub Crawl with Open Bar, Shots, & VIP Club Entry: $17
  • Pub Crawl with Unlimited Drinks and VIP Club Entry: $18
  • Pub Crawl Lisbon - 1 Hour of Unlimited Beer and Sangria and more!: $19
  • 1-Hour Portuguese Wine Tasting Session: $20
  • Lisbon Pub Crawl: $21
  • Pub Crawl with Open Bar and VIP Club Entry: $21
  • Lisbon Pub Crawl: $22
  • Lisbon Wild Pub Crawl : $22
  • Private Bar Crawl in Lisbon: $22
  • Pub Crawl Walking Tour with Shots and Drinking Games: $22
  • Beer Tasting in a Classic Brewery: $27
  • Pub Crawl Lisbon: $27

Typical Alcohol Prices in Montreal

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


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

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


Which is Bigger, Lisbon or Montreal?

Montreal has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Lisbon. When comparing the sizes of Lisbon 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 Lisbon 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 Lisbon or Montreal in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Lisbon and Montreal. The beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Lisbon this time of year.

Lisbon is a little warmer than Montreal in the summer. The daily temperature in Lisbon averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Montreal fluctuates around 21°C (69°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montreal this time of the year. In Lisbon, it's very sunny this time of the year. Lisbon usually receives more sunshine than Montreal during summer. Lisbon gets 352 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 276 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Lisbon usually receives less rain than Montreal. Lisbon gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Lisbon 23°C (73°F) 
    Montreal 21°C (69°F)

Should I visit Lisbon or Montreal in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Lisbon as well as Montreal. Many travelers come to Lisbon for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Lisbon is much warmer than Montreal. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Lisbon in October average around 19°C (66°F), and Montreal averages at about 8°C (47°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Lisbon this time of the year. In the autumn, Lisbon often gets more sunshine than Montreal. Lisbon gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 141 hours of full sun.

Lisbon usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Montreal. Lisbon gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Lisbon 19°C (66°F) 
    Montreal 8°C (47°F)

Should I visit Lisbon or Montreal in the Winter?

Both Montreal and Lisbon are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Lisbon in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Montreal can be very cold during winter. In January, Lisbon is generally much warmer than Montreal. Daily temperatures in Lisbon average around 12°C (53°F), and Montreal fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).

Lisbon usually receives more sunshine than Montreal during winter. Lisbon gets 144 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 103 hours of full sun in the winter.

It's quite rainy in Lisbon. In January, Lisbon usually receives more rain than Montreal. Lisbon gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Lisbon 12°C (53°F) 
    Montreal -10°C (14°F)

Should I visit Lisbon or Montreal in the Spring?

Both Montreal and Lisbon during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Lisbon for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty during these months.

Lisbon is much warmer than Montreal in the spring. The daily temperature in Lisbon averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Montreal fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).

It's quite sunny in Lisbon. In the spring, Lisbon often gets more sunshine than Montreal. Lisbon gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 183 hours of full sun.

Lisbon usually gets less rain in April than Montreal. Lisbon gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Lisbon 16°C (60°F) 
    Montreal 6°C (43°F)

Typical Weather for Montreal and Lisbon

Lisbon Montreal
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 12°C (53°F) 110 mm (4.3 in) -10°C (14°F) 74 mm (2.9 in)
Feb 13°C (55°F) 111 mm (4.4 in) -9°C (16°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)
Mar 14°C (58°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) -2°C (28°F) 74 mm (2.9 in)
Apr 16°C (60°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 6°C (43°F) 78 mm (3.1 in)
May 18°C (64°F) 39 mm (1.5 in) 13°C (55°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Jun 21°C (69°F) 21 mm (0.8 in) 18°C (64°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
Jul 23°C (73°F) 5 mm (0.2 in) 21°C (69°F) 91 mm (3.6 in)
Aug 23°C (74°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 19°C (67°F) 104 mm (4.1 in)
Sep 22°C (72°F) 26 mm (1 in) 14°C (58°F) 90 mm (3.5 in)
Oct 19°C (66°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 8°C (47°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)
Nov 15°C (59°F) 114 mm (4.5 in) 2°C (35°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Dec 12°C (54°F) 108 mm (4.3 in) -7°C (20°F) 99 mm (3.9 in)