Which place is cheaper, Toronto or Montreal?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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 Toronto can help you decide which place is right for you.
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.
The capital of Ontario and the most populated city in Canada, Toronto is a very popular travel destination for any number of reasons. It's positioned along the coast of Lake Ontario and has a population of more than 2.6 million with 6.2 million in the Greater Toronto Area. It's a very international and diverse city, with a very rich cultural history. More than half of the city's population was not born in Canada, and there are more than eighty different ethnic neighborhoods sprinkled throughout the city. The city is a center for music, theater, film, and television. It has countless museums, festivals, and sights that attract more than 25 million tourists every year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Train & Rail Tours in Canada, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada, The Best Camping Tours in Canada, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Canada.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Montreal is $209, while the average daily cost in Toronto is $203. 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 Montreal and Toronto in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Montreal or Toronto? 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.
Also for Montreal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Toronto are as follows:
Also for Toronto, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Toronto 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.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Montreal:
For Montreal, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Toronto, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Toronto, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Montreal, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montreal.
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Toronto's activities, tours, and tickets:
For Toronto, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Montreal:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montreal:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Toronto:
When comparing the travel costs between Montreal and Toronto, we can see that Montreal is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Montreal Expensive? and Is Toronto Expensive?.
Toronto has a larger population, and is about 41% larger than the population of Montreal. When comparing the sizes of Montreal and Toronto, 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.
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.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Montreal and Toronto.
In the summer, Montreal is around the same temperature as Toronto. Typically, the summer temperatures in Montreal in July average around 21°C (69°F), and Toronto averages at about 21°C (70°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Toronto this time of the year. In Montreal, it's very sunny this time of the year. Montreal usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Toronto during summer. Montreal gets 276 hours of sunny skies, while Toronto receives 281 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Montreal usually receives more rain than Toronto. Montreal gets 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Toronto receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Montreal as well as Toronto.
In October, Montreal is generally cooler than Toronto. Daily temperatures in Montreal average around 8°C (47°F), and Toronto fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
In the autumn, Montreal often gets less sunshine than Toronto. Montreal gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Toronto receives 153 hours of full sun.
Montreal usually gets more rain in October than Toronto. Montreal gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Toronto receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Toronto and Montreal are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
The weather in Toronto can be very cold. Montreal can be very cold during winter. Montreal is much colder than Toronto in the winter. The daily temperature in Montreal averages around -10°C (14°F) in January, and Toronto fluctuates around -4°C (25°F).
Montreal usually receives more sunshine than Toronto during winter. Montreal gets 103 hours of sunny skies, while Toronto receives 87 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Montreal usually receives more rain than Toronto. Montreal gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Toronto receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Both Toronto and Montreal during the spring are popular places to visit.
In the spring, Montreal is cooler than Toronto. Typically, the spring temperatures in Montreal in April average around 6°C (43°F), and Toronto averages at about 7°C (44°F).
In the spring, Montreal often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Toronto. Montreal gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Toronto receives 179 hours of full sun.
Montreal usually gets more rain in April than Toronto. Montreal gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Toronto receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
Montreal | Toronto | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | -10°C (14°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | -4°C (25°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
Feb | -9°C (16°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | -4°C (26°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
Mar | -2°C (28°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
Apr | 6°C (43°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
May | 13°C (55°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
Jul | 21°C (69°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
Aug | 19°C (67°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
Sep | 14°C (58°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
Oct | 8°C (47°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
Nov | 2°C (35°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
Dec | -7°C (20°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | -1°C (30°F) | 75 mm (2.9 in) |