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

Should you visit Pasadena or Montreal?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Pasadena and Montreal. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Pasadena or Montreal?

Pasadena

Pasadena, California is adjacent to Los Angeles and is probably most famous as the host for the New Year's Day Rose Parade and Rose Bowl football game. As such, it has become known as the City of Roses. Year around Pasadena is known to have a vibrant night life. It has a great Old Town area that has impressive shopping and many excellent restaurants. It's also home to the California Institute of Technology and has many museums, theaters, and independent films that make it a cultural haven for the area. Also make sure you visit the Huntington Library which has an impressive art collection and over 150 acres of botanical gardens. It's been featured in several Hollywood Films.

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 Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing 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 Pasadena?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Pasadena is $62, 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 Pasadena and Montreal in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Pasadena $25
    Montreal $131
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Pasadena $50
    Montreal $262
Compare Hotels in Pasadena and Montreal

Looking for a hotel in Pasadena 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 Pasadena


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: Pasadena Hotel Prices and Montreal Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Pasadena $21
    Montreal $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: Montreal City Center to Pierre E.T. Airport-YUL: $48
  • Le Terminal Cruise Port to Québec Airport YQB Departure Transfer: $57
  • Private One-way Montreal Airport Transfer To/From Montreal: $58
  • Arrival Transfer from International Airport: $65
  • Transfer in private vehicle from Montreal CityCenter- to Montreal Airport (YUL): $67
  • Downtown Direct: Montreal's Exclusive Airport Transfer: $79
  • Montreal Best Private Transfer services : $82
  • Private Transfer: Montreal to Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (YUL): $87
  • Private Departure Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL: $116
  • Montreal Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL in Business Car: $117
  • Departure Private Transfer: Montreal to Montreal Airport YUL in Business Car: $117

Is it cheaper to fly into Pasadena or Montreal?

Prices for flights to both Montreal and Pasadena 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
    Pasadena $19
    Montreal $36
Typical Food Prices in Pasadena

Some typical examples of dining costs in Pasadena are as follows:


  • Casual Dinner Out (family of 4)
    $58

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.
    Pasadena -
    Montreal $21

Tours and Activities in Pasadena

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pasadena are as follows:

  • LA: East Side Guided Film Locations Tour: $350
  • Haunted Walking Tour: $33
  • Old Pasadena Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour: $49

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
    Pasadena -
    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 Pasadena and Montreal, we can see that Montreal is more expensive. And not only is Pasadena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pasadena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pasadena 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 Pasadena.

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


Which is Bigger, Pasadena or Montreal?

Montreal has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Pasadena. When comparing the sizes of Pasadena 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 Pasadena 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 Pasadena or Montreal in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Pasadena as well as Montreal. Many travelers come to Pasadena for the family-friendly experiences.

Pasadena is around the same temperature as Montreal in the summer. The daily temperature in Pasadena averages around 73°F (23°C) in July, and Montreal fluctuates around 21°C (69°F).

Pasadena usually gets less rain in July than Montreal. Pasadena gets 0 inches (0 mm) of rain, while Montreal receives 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Pasadena 73°F (23°C) 
    Montreal 21°C (69°F)

Should I visit Pasadena or Montreal in the Autumn?

Both Montreal and Pasadena are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Pasadena in the autumn for the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Pasadena is much warmer than Montreal. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Pasadena in October average around 68°F (20°C), and Montreal averages at about 8°C (47°F).

In October, Pasadena usually receives less rain than Montreal. Pasadena gets 0.3 inches (7 mm) of rain, while Montreal receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Pasadena 68°F (20°C) 
    Montreal 8°C (47°F)

Should I visit Pasadena or Montreal in the Winter?

Both Montreal and Pasadena during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Pasadena for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

The weather in Montreal can be very cold. In January, Pasadena is generally much warmer than Montreal. Daily temperatures in Pasadena average around 56°F (13°C), and Montreal fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).

Pasadena usually gets less rain in January than Montreal. Pasadena gets 2.5 inches (63 mm) of rain, while Montreal receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Pasadena 56°F (13°C) 
    Montreal -10°C (14°F)

Should I visit Pasadena or Montreal in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Pasadena and Montreal.

Pasadena is much warmer than Montreal in the spring. The daily temperature in Pasadena averages around 62°F (17°C) in April, and Montreal fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).

In April, Pasadena usually receives less rain than Montreal. Pasadena gets 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain, while Montreal receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Pasadena 62°F (17°C) 
    Montreal 6°C (43°F)

Typical Weather for Montreal and Pasadena

Pasadena Montreal
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 56°F (13°C) 2.5 inches (63 mm) -10°C (14°F) 74 mm (2.9 in)
Feb 58°F (14°C) 2.5 inches (63 mm) -9°C (16°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)
Mar 59°F (15°C) 2 inches (50 mm) -2°C (28°F) 74 mm (2.9 in)
Apr 62°F (17°C) 0.7 inches (17 mm) 6°C (43°F) 78 mm (3.1 in)
May 65°F (18°C) 0.2 inches (4 mm) 13°C (55°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Jun 69°F (20°C) 0 inches (1 mm) 18°C (64°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
Jul 73°F (23°C) 0 inches (0 mm) 21°C (69°F) 91 mm (3.6 in)
Aug 74°F (24°C) 0.1 inches (3 mm) 19°C (67°F) 104 mm (4.1 in)
Sep 73°F (23°C) 0.3 inches (7 mm) 14°C (58°F) 90 mm (3.5 in)
Oct 68°F (20°C) 0.3 inches (7 mm) 8°C (47°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)
Nov 62°F (16°C) 1.6 inches (42 mm) 2°C (35°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Dec 56°F (13°C) 1.7 inches (43 mm) -7°C (20°F) 99 mm (3.9 in)