Which place is cheaper, Montreal or Paris?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Paris or Montreal?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Paris 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: Paris or Montreal?
Paris
Paris is a dream destination for many people. It's location on the river Seine contributes to its stunning beauty and you can spend many days wandering through its wonderfully diverse neighborhoods. It's known as a city of culture, fashion, food and fun. There is never a shortage of entertainment and activities around town and a highlight of many people's trips to Paris is to explore the city at night, when it truly comes to life. It is not hard to see why this city has received the nickname as the "City of Lights."
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 Historical Tours in France, The Best 10-Day Tours in France, The Best Train & Rail Tours in Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayParis €232Montreal €195
The average daily cost (per person) in Paris is €232, while the average daily cost in Montreal is €195. 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 Paris and Montreal in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personParis €151Montreal €123
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomParis €302Montreal €246
Compare Hotels in Paris and Montreal
Looking for a hotel in Paris 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.
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: Paris Hotel Prices and Montreal Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Paris €21Montreal €19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Paris
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Paris are as follows:
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Metro€6.40
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Train from Airport€9.00
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Metro tickets€6.80
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Train€20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paris
Also for Paris, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Versailles: Skip-the-Line Day Tour & Transfer from Paris: $2,583
- Private Transfer to or from Toulouse: $1,399
- From Le Havre/Honfleur: Private Transfer to Versailles: $1,398
- Private Transfer to or from Lyon: $969
- Private Transfer to or from Strasbourg: $969
- From Le Havre to Paris or back: private one way transfer: $770
- Transfer Giverny village house Claude Monet 3 pax: $419
- Private Transfer from or to Beauvais Airport: $406
- Charles De Gaule Airport Private Transfer: $274
- Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Round Trip Transfer to/from Paris: $273
- Private Transfer: Paris Airport CDG to Reims / Champagne by Van: $273
- Private Transfer to or from Beauvais Airport: $269
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
- Montreal Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL in Luxury SUV: $163
- Departure Private Transfer: Montreal to Montreal Airport YUL in Luxury SUV: $163
- Departure Transfer Montreal to Montreal Airport by Limos or Bus: $153
- Montreal Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL in Business Car: $117
- Departure Private Transfer: Montreal to Montreal Airport YUL in Business Car: $117
- Private Departure Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL: $116
- Private Transfer: Montreal to Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (YUL): $87
- Montreal Best Private Transfer services : $82
- Downtown Direct: Montreal's Exclusive Airport Transfer: $79
- Transfer in private vehicle from Montreal CityCenter- to Montreal Airport (YUL): $67
- Arrival Transfer from International Airport: $65
Is it cheaper to fly into Paris or Montreal?
Prices for flights to both Montreal and Paris 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 dayParis €41Montreal €34
Typical Food Prices in Paris
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Paris:
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Ice Cream€8.00
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Breakfast€7.00
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Breakfast for 2€30
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Dinner on River Cruise€86
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Dinner€57
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Cheese€13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paris
For Paris, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 1h30 Cooking Activity in English: $22
- Hard Rock Cafe Paris with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner : $33
- Authentic Indian Dinner in Paris : $49
- Paris Capitaine Fracasse 3 Course Seine River Dinner Cruise: $52
- Paris : Seine River Bistronomic Dinner Cruise: $53
- Seine Cruise Departure from Pont Alexandre III with Dinner Included: $64
- Seine River Panoramic Views Dinner Cruise: $67
- Eat, play, love Montmartre: 3H Walking Food Tour -Kids friendly-: $68
- No Diet Club - Paris : Night food tour - Montmartre: $68
- Paris en Scene 3 Course Seine River Dinner Cruise: $68
- 1-Hour Sightseeing Cruise with Bistro Dinner: $68
- Le Marais Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $69
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€8.39
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montreal
For Montreal, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Le Bateau-Mouche À La Carte Menu Dinner Cruise: $59
- 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
- Cooking Class and Tasting Menu with Michelin Chef: $130
- Montréal: 5-Course Dinner Cruise with Music & VIP Option: $160
- Personalized Private Food Tour with a Local Foodie: $207
- Cooking Class in Montreal with a Michelin-Star Trained Chef: $224
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Paris €77Montreal €20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Paris
For Paris, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Louvre Entry for Two€18
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Admission to Pantheon€5.00
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Catacombs (2)€23
Tours and Activities in Paris
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Paris.
- Île de la Cité: Guided Tour + Sainte-Chapelle Fast Track Entry: $55
- A Day at Parc Saint-Paul Ticket and Transport Included: $208
- Day Tour- Normandy Omaha Beach - Cemetery - Cider Tasting: $260
- Guided Tour to Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur Chronicles: $54
- Notre-Dame Walking Tour with Skip The Line Sainte-Chapelle Entry: $61
- Paris Boat River Seine Cruise Sightseeing TICKETS: $22
- Paris Christmas Market Tour: $297
- Paris City Center Self-Guided Walking Tour : $11
- Paris Entrance Ticket to the Aura Invalides Immersive Show: $24
- Paris Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide: $267
- Paris Sightseeing Tour with Seine River Cruise from Disneyland®: $94
- Private Tour in Medieval Paris with Latin Quarter and Panthéon: $251
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)€50
Tours and Activities in Montreal
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montreal.
- 1 Hour Downtown Montreal Tour: $29
- 2 hour Tour of The Montreal Bagel: $44
- 3 Days 2 Nights Tour in New York: $300
- 3-Hour Scooter Sightseeing in Montreal: $79
- 3Hr Montreal Architecture Bike Tour with regular or E-bikes Beer & wine included: $64
- APP Self-Guided Tours Montreal with Audioguide: $8.74
- All about Montreal's Murals - Saturday Walking Tour: $24
- Awesome Curling Experience : $82
- Best of Montreal Small Group Tour with River Cruise + Notre Dame: $211
- Beyond the Basilica Walking Tour by Spade & Palacio: $54
- Christmas Walking Tour in Old Montreal: $24
- City tour; afternoon in Montreal: $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayParis €24Montreal €15
Typical Alcohol Prices in Paris
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Paris are as follows:
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Wine€14
Sample the Local Flavors in Paris
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Paris:
- Daily Paris Pub Crawl : Meet, Drink & Party: $11
- Original Pub Crawl: $16
- Daily Paris Pub Crawl : Meet, Drink & Party: $20
- Latin Quarter Guided Pub Crawl to Bars and Clubs: $22
- Paris Bar Crawl: $24
- Paris Pub Crawl: $25
- Audio guided tour and wine tasting at Caves du Louvre: $32
- Paris Craft gin distillery guided Tour & Tasting in French: $32
- Wine Museum Guided Tour with Wine Tasting: $39
- Guided Visit and Wine Tasting in a Royal Wine Cellar in Paris: $39
- Vineyard tour and wine tasting in Davron: $43
- Paris St Germain Wine Tasting: $43
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€17
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 Paris and Montreal, we can see that Paris is more expensive. And not only is Montreal much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Paris is in Europe and Montreal is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Montreal would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Montreal 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 Paris would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paris than you might in Montreal.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Paris Expensive? and Is Montreal Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Paris or Montreal?
Montreal has a larger population, and is about 53% larger than the population of Paris. When comparing the sizes of Paris 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 Paris or Montreal?
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.
Should I visit Paris or Montreal in the Summer?
Both Montreal and Paris are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Paris this time of year.
In July, Paris is generally around the same temperature as Montreal. Daily temperatures in Paris average around 20°C (68°F), and Montreal fluctuates around 21°C (69°F).
It's quite sunny in Montreal. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Paris. Paris usually receives less sunshine than Montreal during summer. Paris gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 276 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Paris usually receives less rain than Montreal. Paris gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyParis 20°C (68°F)Montreal 21°C (69°F)
Should I visit Paris or Montreal in the Autumn?
Both Montreal and Paris during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Paris for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Paris is much warmer than Montreal in the autumn. The daily temperature in Paris averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Montreal fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
In the autumn, Paris often gets less sunshine than Montreal. Paris gets 127 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 141 hours of full sun.
Paris usually gets less rain in October than Montreal. Paris gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberParis 13°C (56°F)Montreal 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Paris or Montreal in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Paris and Montreal. Many visitors come to Paris in the winter for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
Montreal can be very cold during winter. Paris can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Paris is much warmer than Montreal. Typically, the winter temperatures in Paris in January average around 5°C (40°F), and Montreal averages at about -10°C (14°F).
Paris usually receives less sunshine than Montreal during winter. Paris gets 62 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 103 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Paris usually receives less rain than Montreal. Paris gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryParis 5°C (40°F)Montreal -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Paris or Montreal in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Paris as well as Montreal. Most visitors come to Paris for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Paris is generally much warmer than Montreal. Daily temperatures in Paris average around 11°C (52°F), and Montreal fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).
In the spring, Paris often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Montreal. Paris gets 172 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 183 hours of full sun.
Paris usually gets less rain in April than Montreal. Paris gets 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilParis 11°C (52°F)Montreal 6°C (43°F)
Typical Weather for Montreal and Paris
| Paris | Montreal | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (40°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (42°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | -9°C (16°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 52 mm (2.1 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (52°F) | 50 mm (1.9 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jul | 20°C (68°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (67°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Sep | 17°C (63°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (47°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (42°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | -7°C (20°F) | 99 mm (3.9 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.