Should you visit Ontario or Quebec?
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 Ontario and Quebec can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Ontario or Quebec?
Ontario
Chances are when you think of Canada, the things that come to mind are all located in the province of Ontario. Ontario has the highest population of any province in the country, and is the heart of Canadian tourism. As the home of Toronto, Niagara Falls and Lake Superior, this area is a major tourist destination.
Quebec
The culture and history of Europe is alive and well in North America. The largest province in Canada, Quebec, was a French colony from the time of Jacques Cartier in 1534 until 1760. Today, it is the only province in Canada where French is the official language. With the second largest population in the country, approximately 6.4 million, or 80% of the people speak French as their native language.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in Canada, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Canada, The Best Northern Lights Tours in Canada, and The Best Luxury Tours to Canada.
Which place is cheaper, Quebec or Ontario?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Ontario is $13,599, while the average daily cost in Quebec is $34,943. 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 Ontario and Quebec in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation
Hotel or hostel for one person
Ontario $7,392
Quebec $16,700
-
Accommodation
Typical double-occupancy room
Ontario
$
Warning: A non-numeric value encountered in /homepages/12/d310477359/htdocs/citycomparison.php on line 2876
14
Quebec
$
Warning: A non-numeric value encountered in /homepages/12/d310477359/htdocs/citycomparison.php on line 2880
32
Looking for a hotel in Ontario or Quebec? 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.
Local Transportation
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ontario
Also for Ontario, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Airport Transfer Toronto to Niagara region:
$286
-
Transfer to or from Waterloo region- Toronto Airport:
$286
-
Toronto Pearson Airport Private Transfer Service to Niagara Falls:
$268
-
Private Departure Transfer -Niagara Falls to Pearson Airport(YYZ):
$251
-
Highlights of Toronto city tour with private transfers:
$251
-
Private Transfer from Toronto City to Toronto Pearson Airport:
$244
-
Ottawa Parc Omega Private Tour with Hotel Transfer:
$243
-
Private Transfer from Toronto Pearson Airport to Niagara:
$230
-
Private Transfer: Niagara Falls Canada to Toronto Downtown Black Car Service:
$211
-
Private Arrival Transfer. Pearson Airport to Kitchener/Waterloo:
$208
-
Low Cost:-Private Transfer: Niagara Falls Canada to Toronto Pearson Airport:
$206
-
Arrival Private Transfer: Toronto Airport YYZ to Niagara Falls in Luxury SUV:
$205
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quebec
Also for Quebec, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Québec Jean Lesage International Airport transfer to Club Med:
$287
-
Private Transfer To Montreal YUL Airport From Mont-Tremblant:
$251
-
Le Terminal Quebec Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Quebec:
$243
-
Québec Jean Lesage Airport (YQB) to Québec city - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$201
-
Montreal Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL in Luxury Van:
$177
-
Montreal Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL in Luxury SUV:
$170
-
Departure Transfer Montreal to Montreal Airport by Limos or Bus:
$155
-
Montréal Airport (YUL) to Montreal hotel or port - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$133
-
YQB Airport Transfer:
$126
-
Private transfer from YQB (QUEBEC) Airport to downtown:
$126
-
Montreal Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL in Business Car:
$122
-
Departure Private Transfer: Montreal to Montreal Airport YUL in Business Car:
$122
Is it cheaper to fly into Ontario or Quebec?
Prices for flights to both Quebec and Ontario 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
Ontario $4,361
Quebec $11,853
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ontario
For Ontario, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Fun Sushi Making Cooking Class at a Trendy Venue in Toronto:
$54
-
Toronto Premier Dinner Cruise on Odyssey in Toronto Harbour:
$60
-
Downtown London Walking Food Tour:
$64
-
Niagara-on-the-Lake Guided Food Tour with Ice Wine & Poutine:
$64
-
Toronto: Niagara Falls Night Tour, Boat, Journey, Dinner & Tower:
$71
-
2 Hour Express Toronto Food Tour: Flavors of Kensington Market:
$74
-
Toronto: Authentic Food Tour with Local & International Flavors:
$74
-
Oh Canada Eh!? Ottawa Dinner Musical with Live Music and Comedy:
$75
-
Kingston: Downtown Food Tour with 6 Tastings & Secret Dish:
$77
-
Niagara Falls Evening Tour with Boat, Journey, Dinner & Fireworks:
$78
-
Great Canadian Food Tour- St. Lawrence Market + The Distillery:
$82
-
Kensington Market International Food Tour:
$89
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quebec
For Quebec, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Jean Talon Market & Little Italy Food Tour with 8 Local Tastings:
$69
-
Montreal Mile End Food Tour with Bagel, Poutine and 7 Tastings:
$78
-
Montreal Mile End Guided Food Tour by Local Montreal Tours:
$78
-
Montreal Elite Mile End Food Tour:
$82
-
Old Montreal Guided Food Tour with 6+ Local Delicacies Tastings:
$91
-
The Only Locally Owned Non-Touristy Food Tour by Spade & Palacio:
$93
-
Quebec : Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide:
$108
-
Food Tour in Quebec With A Local Guide:
$109
-
Montreal Home Dining & Dim Sum Cooking Class:
$115
-
Old Quebec City Food Tour with 10+ Local Tastings:
$122
-
Québec City: 3 or 5-Course Dinner Cruise with DJ & Dancing:
$123
-
Old Quebec City Food Tour with 10+ Authentic Local Tastings:
$124
Entertainment
Tours and Activities in Ontario
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ontario.
-
1 Day Canoeing Tour in Algonquin Park:
$90
-
1 Hour Flight Simulator Experience in Toronto:
$111
-
1 Hour Private Vineyard Dome Experience in Niagara-on-the-Lake:
$43
-
1-Hour Toronto Harbour Tour with Live Narration:
$28
-
14-Minute Helicopter Tour Over Toronto:
$297
-
2-Hour Ottawa Express City Bike Tour:
$57
-
20 km Helicopter Tour over Toronto:
$149
-
50 Minute Harbour Tour with Skyline Views:
$26
-
60 Minute Toronto Sightseeing Harbour Tour:
$28
-
60-Minute Toronto Luxury Yacht Sightseeing Prosecco Cruise!:
$104
-
90-Minute Toronto Luxury Yacht Sightseeing Prosecco Cruise:
$137
-
Adventures in Abstract Paint Pouring:
$29
Tours and Activities in Quebec
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Quebec.
-
1H-Guided Montreal Jet Ski Sunset Adventure:
$148
-
2-hour private tour of Montmorency Falls with transportation by 7-seater SUV:
$211
-
4-hour private tour of Ile d'Orleans. Discover local flavors. Live guide:
$423
-
5 Course Gourmet Food and History Walking Tour of Old Quebec:
$215
-
5 Course Gourmet and Historical Tour of Old Quebec:
$211
-
AURA experience at Notre-Dame Basilica and guided cruise:
$78
-
All about Montréal's Murals - Saturday Walking Tour:
$25
-
Animated Crime Walking Tour in Old Quebec:
$21
-
Best Old Montreal Private Walking Tour | Certified Guide:
$129
-
Best of Quebec City: Panoramic Bus Tour with Local Guide:
$40
-
Best of Quebec City: Panoramic Bus Tour with Local Guide:
$40
-
Beyond the Bagel: Montreal Jewish Food Walking Tour:
$106
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Ontario
Also in Ontario, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Astounding Bar Crawl: Take On Toronto:
$15
-
Between The Lines Classic Wine Tasting:
$18
-
Between the Lines Black Glass Wine Tasting in Niagara-on-the-Lake:
$22
-
Guided Tasting Activity at Sake Brewery:
$28
-
30-Minute Distillery District Segway Tour:
$35
-
Guided Tasting Activity at Sake Brewery with 7 Kinds of Sake:
$43
-
Private Corktown and Distillery District Tour:
$57
-
Blindfold Wine Tasting Experience with a Sommelier Niagara:
$64
-
Niagara Wine Tour and Tastings with Transportation:
$72
-
Niagara-on-the-Lake Small Group Wine Tasting Tour:
$93
-
Relaxing Wine Tour through Niagara's Wine Country:
$93
-
Private Bike Tour Distillery District and Toronto Islands:
$104
Sample the Local Flavors in Quebec
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Quebec:
-
Guided visits and tasting at a Quebec distillery:
$16
-
Quebec City: Honey and Distillery Tour with Tasting:
$20
-
Haunted Montreal Pub Crawl:
$25
-
Quebec City: Island of Orleans Wine Tour:
$93
-
Wine Tasting on Ile d'Orleans:
$94
-
Quebec City: Montmorency Falls and Microbrewery eBike Tour:
$133
-
Quebec City: Montmorency Falls and Microbrewery eBike Tour:
$145
-
Experience Flavors of the Richelieu Valley on a Guided Wine Tour:
$233
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ontario and Quebec, we can see that Quebec is more expensive. And not only is Ontario much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ontario would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ontario 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 Quebec would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Quebec than you might in Ontario.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ontario Expensive? and Is Quebec Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Ontario or Quebec?
Ontario has a larger population, and is about 66% larger than the population of Quebec. When comparing the sizes of Ontario and Quebec, 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.
Related Articles for Ontario
Related Articles for Quebec