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

Should you visit New Bern or Montreal?

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

Should I visit New Bern 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: New Bern or Montreal?

New Bern

New Bern is a town in the coastal region of North Carolina. The town, which has a population of about 30,000, is the county seat of Craven County. It sits at the confluence of the Trent and Neuse Rivers close to the North Carolina coast, although there is no coastline in town. The town makes a nice daytrip from Raleigh, which is 112 miles away, and Wilmington, which is 87 miles away. It's also 162 miles from Norfolk, Virginia.

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 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Train & Rail Tours in Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Montreal or New Bern?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in New Bern is $140, while the average daily cost in Montreal is $209. 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 New Bern and Montreal in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    New Bern $76
    Montreal $131
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    New Bern $152
    Montreal $262
Compare Hotels in New Bern and Montreal

Looking for a hotel in New Bern 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 New Bern


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: New Bern Hotel Prices and Montreal Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    New Bern $34
    Montreal $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montreal

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

  • 8 Passengers Transfer from or to Montreal Airport YUL to Montreal City Center : $223
  • Departure Private Transfer: Montreal to Montreal Airport YUL in Business Car: $117
  • Departure Private Transfer: Montreal to Montreal Airport YUL in Luxury SUV: $163
  • Departure Transfer Montreal to Montreal Airport by Limos or Bus: $153
  • Downtown Direct: Montreal's Exclusive Airport Transfer: $79
  • Le Terminal Cruise Port to Québec Airport YQB Departure Transfer: $57
  • Montreal Best Private Transfer services : $82
  • Montreal Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL in Business Car: $117
  • Montreal Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL in Luxury SUV: $163
  • Arrival Transfer from International Airport: $65
  • Private Departure Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL: $116
  • Private One-way Montreal Airport Transfer To/From Montreal: $58

Is it cheaper to fly into New Bern or Montreal?

Prices for flights to both Montreal and New Bern 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
    New Bern $41
    Montreal $36

Typical Food Prices in Montreal

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


  • Tim Hortons breakfast and coffee
    $8.97

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montreal

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

  • Cooking Class and Tasting Menu with Michelin Chef: $50
  • Le Bateau-Mouche À La Carte Menu Dinner Cruise: $58
  • 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
  • Montréal: 5-Course Dinner Cruise with Music & VIP Option: $160
  • Personalized Private Food Tour with a Local Foodie: $206
  • Cooking Class in Montreal with a Michelin-Star Trained Chef: $224

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    New Bern $26
    Montreal $21

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)
    $53

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: $3.21
  • Montreal self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $4.28
  • Montréal's Mile End to Outremont: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
  • Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $7.49
  • Escape Game and Tour: $8.56
  • APP Self-Guided Tours Montreal with Audioguide: $8.74
  • Montreal Art Center & Museum Audio Guided Tour: $10
  • 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
  • Making Their Mark: Montreal Jewish History Walking Tour: $22

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    New Bern $30
    Montreal $16

Typical Alcohol Prices in Montreal

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


  • 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
  • Guided Bar Crawl with Free Shots and Club Entry: $42


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between New Bern and Montreal, we can see that Montreal is more expensive. And not only is New Bern much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to New Bern would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in New Bern 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 New Bern.

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


Which is Bigger, New Bern or Montreal?

Montreal has a larger population, and is about 140 times larger than the population of New Bern. When comparing the sizes of New Bern 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 New Bern 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 New Bern or Montreal in the Summer?

Both Montreal and New Bern during the summer are popular places to visit. The small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to New Bern this time of year.

In July, New Bern is generally a little warmer than Montreal. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 80°F (27°C), and Montreal fluctuates around 21°C (69°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in New Bern. New Bern usually gets more rain in July than Montreal. New Bern gets 6.6 inches (169 mm) of rain, while Montreal receives 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    New Bern 80°F (27°C) 
    Montreal 21°C (69°F)

Should I visit New Bern or Montreal in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both New Bern and Montreal. Many travelers come to New Bern for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere.

New Bern is much warmer than Montreal in the autumn. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 65°F (18°C) in October, and Montreal fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

In October, New Bern usually receives around the same amount of rain as Montreal. New Bern gets 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Montreal receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    New Bern 65°F (18°C) 
    Montreal 8°C (47°F)

Should I visit New Bern or Montreal in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to New Bern as well as Montreal. Many visitors come to New Bern in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Montreal can be very cold during winter. In the winter, New Bern is much warmer than Montreal. Typically, the winter temperatures in New Bern in January average around 44°F (7°C), and Montreal averages at about -10°C (14°F).

New Bern receives a lot of rain in the winter. New Bern usually gets more rain in January than Montreal. New Bern gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Montreal receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    New Bern 44°F (7°C) 
    Montreal -10°C (14°F)

Should I visit New Bern or Montreal in the Spring?

Both Montreal and New Bern are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to New Bern for the small town charm during these months.

In April, New Bern is generally much warmer than Montreal. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 62°F (16°C), and Montreal fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).

In April, New Bern usually receives around the same amount of rain as Montreal. New Bern gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Montreal receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    New Bern 62°F (16°C) 
    Montreal 6°C (43°F)

Typical Weather for Montreal and New Bern

New Bern Montreal
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 44°F (7°C) 4.1 inches (105 mm) -10°C (14°F) 74 mm (2.9 in)
Feb 46°F (8°C) 3.8 inches (97 mm) -9°C (16°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)
Mar 54°F (12°C) 3.9 inches (99 mm) -2°C (28°F) 74 mm (2.9 in)
Apr 62°F (16°C) 2.9 inches (74 mm) 6°C (43°F) 78 mm (3.1 in)
May 69°F (21°C) 5.1 inches (129 mm) 13°C (55°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Jun 76°F (25°C) 5 inches (126 mm) 18°C (64°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
Jul 80°F (27°C) 6.6 inches (169 mm) 21°C (69°F) 91 mm (3.6 in)
Aug 79°F (26°C) 7.6 inches (192 mm) 19°C (67°F) 104 mm (4.1 in)
Sep 75°F (24°C) 5.1 inches (129 mm) 14°C (58°F) 90 mm (3.5 in)
Oct 65°F (18°C) 3.4 inches (85 mm) 8°C (47°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)
Nov 56°F (13°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm) 2°C (35°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Dec 48°F (9°C) 3.8 inches (96 mm) -7°C (20°F) 99 mm (3.9 in)