Which place is cheaper, Whistler or Montreal?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Montreal or Whistler?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
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 Whistler can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Montreal or Whistler?
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.
Whistler
Located in the province of British Columbia in Canada, Whistler is most famous as the largest ski area in North America. It is also only a short distance from the city of Vancouver, and offers countless opportunities for snow boarding and other winter sports. The town has a permanent population of almost 10,000 and there is a larger seasonal population of workers that come from all over the world. Whistler is a major travel destination with more than two million people visiting the town yearly. As such, there are countless amenities available to visitors. Hotels can vary dramatically in price and quality. There are some budget options, including a couple of hostels in the area, but most people do not visit Whistler as a budget travel destination. It's usually an expensive vacation, but few would argue that it isn't worth the cost.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontreal $211Whistler $126
The average daily cost (per person) in Montreal is $211, while the average daily cost in Whistler is $126. 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 Whistler in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontreal $133Whistler $66
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontreal $266Whistler $132
Compare Hotels in Montreal and Whistler
Looking for a hotel in Montreal or Whistler? 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: Montreal Hotel Prices and Whistler Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montreal $21Whistler $20
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 from Montreal city to Montreal Cruise Port: $36
- Private Transfer from Montreal Port to Montreal Airport (YUL): $36
- Private Departure Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL: $48
- Private Transfer: Montreal City Center to Pierre E.T. Airport-YUL: $49
- Montreal hotel or port to Montréal Airport (YUL) - Departure Private Transfer: $57
- Private Transfer from Montreal hotels to Montréal Airport (YUL): $57
- Private Arrival Transfer from Montreal Airport YUL: $58
- Le Terminal Cruise Port to Québec Airport YQB Departure Transfer: $58
- Private One Way Transfer from Montreal to Montreal Airport: $59
- Departure transfer Montreal to Montreal Airport YUL by Car or SUV: $61
- Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL: $65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Whistler
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Whistler:
- Private Transfer from Whistler to Richmond BC: $630
- Private Transfer from Whistler to Downtown Vancouver: $567
- From Scenic Seaplane transfer to Victoria : $238
- Transfer private vehicle from Whistler -Vancouver Airport (YVR): $203
- From Scenic Seaplane transfer to Vancouver : $180
- Whistler to Vancouver Private Transfer: $180
- Private Transfer from Whistler hotels to Vancouver Airport (YVR): $169
- Private Departure Transfer from Whistler to Vancouver Airport YVR: $78
- Whistler to Vancouver Harbour Water Airport - Departure Transfer: $77
Is it cheaper to fly into Montreal or Whistler?
Prices for flights to both Whistler 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayMontreal $36Whistler $30
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$9.05
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montreal
For Montreal, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Beyond the Market Non-Touristy Walking Food Tour: $48
- Bateau-Mouche Cruise with A La Carte Dinner Option: $55
- No Diet Club: Walking food Tour with many tastings: $60
- Historical Food Tour with 6 Tastings: $66
- Montreal Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $73
- Beyond the Market Food Tour by Spade & Palacio: $74
- Guided Happy Hour Brew Tour in Montreal with Dinner: $82
- Mile End Montreal Original Food Tour - by Local Montreal Tours: $88
- Old Montreal Food & Drink Tour by Local Montreal Food Tours: $103
- The (Anti-Package, Small-Group ) Montreal Food Tour: $127
- Jewish Neighborhood Food Tour: $130
- Cooking Class & Tasting with Michelin-Trained Chef: $137
Typical Food Prices in Whistler
Some typical examples of dining costs in Whistler are as follows:
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Coffee at Starbucks$12
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Tim Hortons Breakfast$12
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Coffee at Timmy's$3.67
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Whistler
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Whistler.
- Finer Things: 4-Course Dinner Tour in Whistler: $130
- Finer Things Dinner Tour in Whistler: $144
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montreal $21Whistler $79
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.
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.27
- Montreal self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $4.36
- Montreal Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $4.42
- Montréal's Mile End to Outremont: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
- Culture Tsunami Quest Experience in Montreal Old Town: $7.17
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $7.62
- Self-Guided Old Town Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour: $7.88
- Prohibition Quest Experience: $8.35
- Escape Game and Tour: $8.71
- APP Self-Guided Tours Montreal with Audioguide: $8.91
- Montreal Art Center & Museum Audio Guided Tour: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
Typical Entertainment Prices in Whistler
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Whistler are as follows:
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Driving Range$15
Tours and Activities in Whistler
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Whistler are as follows:
- Audain Art Museum Admission Ticket: $16
- Call of the Wild ATV Tour: $156
- Callaghan Cruiser Snowmobile Tour : $219
- From Glacier Sightseeing Experience by Seaplane : $182
- Full Day Fly Fishing Tour: $248
- Full Day Ice Fishing Tour: $249
- Full Day Spin Fishing Tour: $249
- Guided Fishing Adventure in Whistler: $155
- Guided Lunch Tour in Whistler: $88
- Half Day Fly Fishing Tour: $195
- Half Day Spin Fishing Tour: $194
- Medicine Trail Snowshoe Tour : $109
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontreal $17Whistler $8.81
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
- Haunted Montreal Pub Crawl: $22
- Guided Bar Crawl with Free Shots and Club Entry: $42
- Guided Pub Crawl of the City's Rooftop Bars: $87
Sample the Local Flavors in Whistler
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Whistler:
- Whistler Distillery Tour & Tasting Experience: $65
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montreal and Whistler, we can see that Montreal is more expensive. And not only is Whistler much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Whistler would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Whistler 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 Whistler.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Montreal Expensive? and Is Whistler Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montreal or Whistler?
Montreal has a larger population, and is about 310 times larger than the population of Whistler. When comparing the sizes of Montreal and Whistler, 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 Montreal or Whistler?
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 Montreal or Whistler in the Summer?
Both Whistler and Montreal during the summer are popular places to visit.
In the summer, Montreal is a little warmer than Whistler. Typically, the summer temperatures in Montreal in July average around 21°C (69°F), and Whistler averages at about 18°C (64°F).
In Whistler, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Montreal. In the summer, Montreal often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Whistler. Montreal gets 276 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whistler receives 296 hours of full sun.
Montreal usually gets more rain in July than Whistler. Montreal gets 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Whistler receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMontreal 21°C (69°F)Whistler 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Montreal or Whistler in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Montreal and Whistler.
In October, Montreal is generally cooler than Whistler. Daily temperatures in Montreal average around 8°C (47°F), and Whistler fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Montreal usually receives more sunshine than Whistler during autumn. Montreal gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Whistler receives 124 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Whistler receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Montreal usually receives less rain than Whistler. Montreal gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Whistler receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMontreal 8°C (47°F)Whistler 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Montreal or Whistler in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Montreal as well as Whistler.
Whistler can be very cold during winter. Montreal can get quite cold in the winter. Montreal is much colder than Whistler in the winter. The daily temperature in Montreal averages around -10°C (14°F) in January, and Whistler fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).
In the winter, Montreal often gets more sunshine than Whistler. Montreal gets 103 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whistler receives 55 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Whistler. Montreal usually gets less rain in January than Whistler. Montreal gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Whistler receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMontreal -10°C (14°F)Whistler 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Montreal or Whistler in the Spring?
Both Whistler and Montreal are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In the spring, Montreal is much colder than Whistler. Typically, the spring temperatures in Montreal in April average around 6°C (43°F), and Whistler averages at about 9°C (49°F).
Montreal usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Whistler during spring. Montreal gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Whistler receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Whistler. In April, Montreal usually receives less rain than Whistler. Montreal gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Whistler receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMontreal 6°C (43°F)Whistler 9°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Whistler and Montreal
| Montreal | Whistler | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -10°C (14°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Feb | -9°C (16°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 179 mm (7.1 in) |
| Mar | -2°C (28°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
| Apr | 6°C (43°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 13°C (55°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (69°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (67°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (58°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 8°C (47°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Nov | 2°C (35°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Dec | -7°C (20°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 198 mm (7.8 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.