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

Should you visit Malaga 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 Malaga 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: Malaga or Montreal?

Malaga

Malaga is a port city in the southern part of Spain. It is the 6th largest city in Spain and the southernmost large city in Europe. Malaga lies on the Mediterranean on the Costa del Sol, only 62 miles east of the Strait of Gibraltar, and 80 miles north of Africa. Malaga's history dates back about 2,800 years, which makes it one of the oldest cities in the world. The archaeological remains and monuments from the Phoenician, Roman, Arabic and Christian eras make the historic center of the city an "open museum", displaying its history of more than 3,000 years. Because of its important cultural infrastructure and the artistic heritage, Malaga has been nominated for the European Capital of Culture. Malaga's most important economic contributors include tourism, technology, and construction, but transportation and logistics are becoming increasingly important factors 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 Budget Tours to Spain, The Best Tours for Seniors to Spain, The Best Train & Rail Tours in Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Montreal or Malaga?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Malaga is €140, 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 Malaga and Montreal in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Malaga 75
    Montreal 123
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Malaga 150
    Montreal 246
Compare Hotels in Malaga and Montreal

Looking for a hotel in Malaga 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 Malaga


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: Malaga Hotel Prices and Montreal Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Malaga 31
    Montreal 19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Malaga

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Malaga:

  • Private Transfer from Malaga Airport (Agp) to Granada City: $289
  • Private Transfer from Albuñol to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $270
  • Private Transfer from Malaga Airport (AGP) to Albuñol: $270
  • Private Transfer from Malaga Airport (AGP) to Ferreirola: $268
  • Private Transfer from Malaga Airport (AGP) to Almerimar: $261
  • Private Transfer from Malaga Airport (AGP) to Los Barrios: $242
  • Private Transfer from Malaga Airport (AGP) to La Mamola: $242
  • Private Transfer from Malaga Airport (AGP) to Algeciras: $233
  • Private Transfer from/to Seville to/from Malaga & Stop Alhambra: $230
  • Private Transfer from Malaga Airport (AGP) to Gaucín: $223
  • Private Transfer from Malaga Airport (AGP) to Algodonales: $223
  • Private Transfer from Malaga Airport (AGP) to Frontera La Línea - Gibraltar: $223

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 Malaga or Montreal?

Prices for flights to both Montreal and Malaga 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
    Malaga 35
    Montreal 34
Typical Food Prices in Malaga

Some typical examples of dining costs in Malaga are as follows:


  • Dinner for 2
    30
  • Dinner for 2
    44
  • Breakfast for 2
    8.00

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Malaga

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Malaga.

  • Horse and Flamenco Show in Malaga with Dinner: $76
  • Malaga Tapas Cooking Class: $89
  • Andalucia by Sunset - half day tour including dinner and Ronda pickup: $93
  • Sardines On Skewers Show Cooking in Malaga beach: $147

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.
    Malaga 31
    Montreal 20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Malaga

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


  • Entrance to Castillos
    7.10
  • Concert
    31

Tours and Activities in Malaga

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

  • Half-Day Luxury Motor Yacht Cruise in Granada: $153
  • Private Tour of Ronda and Setenil de Las Bodegas: $240
  • Ronda group walking Tour: $27
  • Sealife Benalmadena Entrance Ticket: $21
  • Winery and Olive Mill Guided and Tasting Tour with Tapas: $120
  • 1 Hour Malaga Panoramic Segway Tour : $38
  • 1 Hour Quad/ATV Tour Off-Road Adventure in Mijas: $98
  • 1.5-Hour Roman Theater and Alcazaba Castle Walking Tour: $16
  • 2 Hour Buggy Tour Off-Road Adventure in Mijas: $142
  • 2 Hour Family Buggy Tour, Off-Road Adventure in Mijas: $164
  • 2 Hours Buggy Safari Experience in the Mountains of Mijas with Guide: $126
  • 2-Hour French Guided Walking Tour in Malaga: $20

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.

  • First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
  • Montreal self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $4.31
  • Montréal's Mile End to Outremont: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
  • Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $7.54
  • Escape Game and Tour: $8.61
  • APP Self-Guided Tours Montreal with Audioguide: $8.74
  • Montreal Art Center & Museum Audio Guided Tour: $10
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
  • 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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Malaga 22
    Montreal 15

Sample the Local Flavors in Malaga

Also in Malaga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Malaga Nightlife Pub Crawl Tour with Drinks and Clubs Entry: $17
  • Sun and Wine Route - Small group, wine tasting and lunch included: $76
  • Malaga City Wine Tour: $94
  • Flamenco, Tapas and Wine Tour: Best of Málaga in one Evening: $104

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

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


Which is Bigger, Malaga or Montreal?

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

The summer brings many poeple to Malaga as well as Montreal. Many travelers come to Malaga for the beaches, snorkeling, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Malaga is a little warmer than Montreal. Typically, the summer temperatures in Malaga in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Montreal averages at about 21°C (69°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montreal. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Malaga this time of the year. In the summer, Malaga often gets more sunshine than Montreal. Malaga gets 348 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 276 hours of full sun.

Malaga usually gets less rain in July than Montreal. Malaga gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Malaga 25°C (77°F) 
    Montreal 21°C (69°F)

Should I visit Malaga or Montreal in the Autumn?

Both Montreal and Malaga are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Malaga in the autumn for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Malaga is generally much warmer than Montreal. Daily temperatures in Malaga average around 19°C (67°F), and Montreal fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Malaga. Malaga usually receives more sunshine than Montreal during autumn. Malaga gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 141 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Malaga usually receives less rain than Montreal. Malaga gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Malaga 19°C (67°F) 
    Montreal 8°C (47°F)

Should I visit Malaga or Montreal in the Winter?

Both Montreal and Malaga during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Malaga for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months.

The weather in Montreal can be very cold. Malaga is much warmer than Montreal in the winter. The daily temperature in Malaga averages around 12°C (54°F) in January, and Montreal fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).

In the winter, Malaga often gets more sunshine than Montreal. Malaga gets 171 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 103 hours of full sun.

Malaga usually gets more rain in January than Montreal. Malaga gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Malaga 12°C (54°F) 
    Montreal -10°C (14°F)

Should I visit Malaga or Montreal in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Malaga and Montreal. The spring months attract visitors to Malaga because of the beaches and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Malaga is much warmer than Montreal. Typically, the spring temperatures in Malaga in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Montreal averages at about 6°C (43°F).

In Malaga, it's very sunny this time of the year. Malaga usually receives more sunshine than Montreal during spring. Malaga gets 220 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 183 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Malaga usually receives less rain than Montreal. Malaga gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.


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

Typical Weather for Montreal and Malaga

Malaga Montreal
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 12°C (54°F) 83 mm (3.3 in) -10°C (14°F) 74 mm (2.9 in)
Feb 13°C (55°F) 75 mm (3 in) -9°C (16°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)
Mar 14°C (57°F) 59 mm (2.3 in) -2°C (28°F) 74 mm (2.9 in)
Apr 16°C (60°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 6°C (43°F) 78 mm (3.1 in)
May 19°C (66°F) 24 mm (0.9 in) 13°C (55°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Jun 22°C (72°F) 13 mm (0.5 in) 18°C (64°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
Jul 25°C (77°F) 2 mm (0.1 in) 21°C (69°F) 91 mm (3.6 in)
Aug 25°C (78°F) 5 mm (0.2 in) 19°C (67°F) 104 mm (4.1 in)
Sep 23°C (74°F) 15 mm (0.6 in) 14°C (58°F) 90 mm (3.5 in)
Oct 19°C (67°F) 54 mm (2.1 in) 8°C (47°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)
Nov 15°C (60°F) 115 mm (4.5 in) 2°C (35°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Dec 13°C (55°F) 102 mm (4 in) -7°C (20°F) 99 mm (3.9 in)