Should you visit Montreal or Halifax?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Montreal and Halifax can help you decide which place is right for you.
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.
Halifax
The quaint and charming coastal town of Halifax, Nova Scotia has an interesting personality. While it caters to travelers from all over the world, it maintains the pace and lifestyle of a small town.
Steeped in maritime history, Halifax is the capital of Nova Scotia, and one of the world's greatest natural harbors. This busy seaport serves as the economic and cultural hub of Eastern Canada.
When planning your trip keep in mind that this city has a climate like other coastal cities. Summers are nice with the occasional humidity. Winters are mild, but still full of snow and wind. The best time of year to visit is most certainly the fall.
Which city is cheaper, Halifax or Montreal?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Montreal is $178, while the average daily cost in Halifax is $99. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Montreal and Halifax in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $222 in Montreal For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
The prices for places to stay in Halifax can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $57, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $114.
Food
Food in Montreal costs travelers about $32 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
The price of a meal in Halifax can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $27 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $11 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
Montreal $32
Halifax $27
Typical Food prices in Montreal
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Montreal:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montreal
For Montreal, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Mile End Food Tour:
$65
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Private Tour: Secret Food Tours Montreal:
$72
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Old Montreal Food Tour:
$79
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Beyond the Market Food Tour in Montreal:
$80
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Jewish Neighborhood Food Tour:
$98
-
Montreal Food Tour with Electric Scooter:
$123
-
Montreal Gourmet Dinner Cruise with music:
$134
-
Secret Food Tours Montreal w/ Private Tour Option:
$156
-
authentic thai private cooking Class:
$289
Typical Food prices in Halifax
For Halifax, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Bluenose II Restaurant
$48
Local Transportation
Montreal's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $18 per person, per day on transportation in Montreal.
To get around in Halifax, the average visitor spends $15 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montreal
Also for Montreal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Transfer in private vehicle from Montreal City Center to Pierre Elliott Airport:
$54
-
Transfer in private minivan from Montreal City Center to Pierre Elliott Airport:
$66
-
Round Trip Montréal Airport (YUL) Transfer to Montréal City Center:
$111
-
Private Transfer: Montreal to Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (YUL):
$97
-
Private Transfer from Montreal City to Montreal (YUL) Airport:
$103
-
Private Transfer:
$86
-
Private Montreal Transfer: Hotel to Airport or Cruise Port:
$114
-
Private Montreal Transfer: Cruise Port to Airport or Hotel:
$140
-
Private Montreal Transfer: Airport to Hotel or Cruise Port:
$140
-
Private Departure Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL:
$38
-
Private Departure Transfer from Montreal City Center to Montréal Airport (YUL):
$60
-
Private Departure Transfer Montreal Downtown or Nun's Island to Montreal YUL Apt:
$60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Halifax
Also for Halifax, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Transfer: Halifax to Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ):
$622
-
Private Transfer from Halifax to Manchester Airport (MAN):
$146
-
Halifax downtown to Halifax Stanfield Airport (YHZ) - Departure Private Transfer:
$90
-
Private Departure Transfer to Halifax Stanfield Airport YHZ:
$69
Is it cheaper to fly into Montreal or Halifax?
Prices for flights to both Halifax and Montreal 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Montreal can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $18 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
In Halifax, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $24 per person, per day.
Typical Entertainment prices in Montreal
For Montreal, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Tours and Activities in Montreal
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montreal.
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2 Hour Full Tour of Montréal in Vintage Convertible Cadillac:
$231
-
3 Hour Montreal City Bike Tour with Wine or Beer:
$66
-
3 hour In-depth tour of Montréal in Convertible Cadillac incl. Mountain summit:
$327
-
4 Hour Montreal Architecture & City Bike Tour with Wine or Beer:
$72
-
6-Day Holiday Tour of Montreal and Quebec by Rail:
$977
-
Beautiful Interiors: Underground & Above - PRIVATE Walking Tour:
$107
-
Beyond the Basilica a Walking Tour in Montreal:
$58
-
Beyond the Bike Lanes Bike Tour:
$72
-
Canadian Tulip Festival-Ottawa May07 - May19 '21, private day tour from Montreal:
$160
-
Charlevoix, Grand Canyo and Whale Watching 2 Days Tour:
$507
-
Christmas Walking Tour in Old Montreal:
$17
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Discover Montreal with a Private Walking Tour by a Local:
$40
Tours and Activities in Halifax
For Halifax, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Best of Halifax Tour with Peggy's Cove - Private Safe Tour:
$88
-
Citadel Tour:
$275
-
Cruise Ship Shore Excursion:
$74
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Fundy Tides Tour:
$575
-
Great Atlantic Canadian Experience:
$7,928
-
Half-Day Historical Tour of Halifax:
$108
-
Half-Day Small-Group Tour of Annapolis Valley:
$108
-
Half-Day Small-Group Tour of Nova Scotia's South Shore:
$108
-
Halifax Boardwalk & Seaport GPS-Guided Audio Walking Tour:
$4.84
-
Halifax Churches and Graveyards GPS-Guided Audio Walking Tour:
$4.84
-
Halifax Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$29
-
Halifax Private Half-Day Historical Tour:
$322
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Montreal, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $14.
Typically, people visiting Halifax spend on average $13 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typical Alcohol prices in Montreal
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Montreal:
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:
$20
-
Small-Group Quebec Wine Tour from Montreal:
$92
Sample the Local Flavors in Halifax
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Halifax:
-
Afternoon Escape Wine Tour:
$90
-
Barrels of Fun Private Wine Tour in Nova Scotia:
$97
-
The Premium Private Wine Tour in Nova Scotia from Halifax:
$141
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montreal and Halifax, we can see that Montreal is more expensive. And not only is Halifax much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Halifax would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Halifax 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 Halifax.
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