Which place is cheaper, Montreal or Philadelphia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Philadelphia or Montreal?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Philadelphia or Montreal, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Philadelphia or Montreal?
Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the fourth largest urban area, and the fifth largest city in the United States. It's located in southeastern Pennsylvania and has a rich history, having once been the capital of the United States. The city has very impressive architecture, museums, universities, and entertainment venues. It's a cultural and artistic center for the country and it continues to climb as a top travel destination.
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 from Anchorage, The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, The Best Train & Rail Tours in Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhiladelphia $188Montreal $209
The average daily cost (per person) in Philadelphia is $188, 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 Philadelphia and Montreal in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhiladelphia $119Montreal $131
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhiladelphia $238Montreal $262
Compare Hotels in Philadelphia and Montreal
Looking for a hotel in Philadelphia 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: Philadelphia Hotel Prices and Montreal Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Philadelphia $28Montreal $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Philadelphia
Also for Philadelphia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Philadelphia Airport (PHL): Private Transfer to Philadelphia: $353
- Philadelphia City to Washington City - Private Car Transfer: $135
- Philadelphia Airport (PHL) to Philadelphia - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $131
- Private Transfer: Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia in Business Car: $95
- Philadelphia to Philadelphia Airport (PHL) - Departure Private Transfer: $66
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montreal
Also for Montreal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer in private vehicle from Montreal CityCenter- to Montreal Airport (YUL): $67
- Private Transfer: Montreal to Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (YUL): $87
- Private Transfer: Montreal City Center to Pierre E.T. Airport-YUL: $48
- Private Transfer from Montreal Cruise Port to Montreal City: $36
- Private One-way Montreal Airport Transfer To/From Montreal: $58
- Private Departure Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL: $116
- Arrival Transfer from International Airport: $65
- Montreal Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL in Luxury SUV: $163
- Montreal Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL in Business Car: $117
- Montreal Best Private Transfer services : $82
- Le Terminal Cruise Port to Québec Airport YQB Departure Transfer: $57
- Downtown Direct: Montreal's Exclusive Airport Transfer: $79
Is it cheaper to fly into Philadelphia or Montreal?
Prices for flights to both Montreal and Philadelphia 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 dayPhiladelphia $49Montreal $36
Typical Food Prices in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Casual Lunch (for 3)$27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Flavors of Philly Food Tour: $52
- Locals' Favorites Food Tour: $52
- Best of Philly Food Tour: $55
- Best of Philadelphia Food Tour-Small Group Walking Tour: $59
- Bites and Booze: Walking Food Tour in Philadelphia : $65
- Philadelphia's Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $65
- Flavors of Philly Food Tour: $65
- Buffet Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner Cruise: $66
- 9th Street Italian Market Walking Food Tour: $69
- Secret Food Tour: $84
- Highlights of East Passyunk Food Tour: $85
- Chef-Led Taste of the Italian Market Food Tour: $90
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$8.97
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Philadelphia $28Montreal $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Philadelphia
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Philadelphia's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Big Bus Tour (family of 3)$99
Tours and Activities in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 Hours Ben Franklin Yacht Brunch Cruise with Buffet: $65
- A Magical Christmas Tour in Philadelphia: $554
- Amazing Philadelphia Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $44
- Art and Controversy: An audio tour of Philadelphia's most infamous art scandals: $5.40
- BYOB Historically Hilarious Trolley Tour of Philadelphia: $49
- Best of Philadelphia Small Group Walking Tour: $104
- City Sightseeing Walking Tour – Founding Fathers and Mothers: $32
- Classic Philadelphia City Bike Tour: $75
- Cocktail Caravan: Philly Walking Bar Tour: $35
- Dark Philly Adult Night Tour: $38
- Discovering Colonial Philadelphia Private Walking Tour: $250
- Double Decker Hop-On Hop-Off City Sightseeing Philadelphia (1, 2, or 3-Day): $36
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)$53
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 dayPhiladelphia $21Montreal $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Philadelphia
Also in Philadelphia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Liberty History Tour Pub Crawl: $45
- Guided Tour with Pub Crawl: $45
- Half-Day Philadelphia's Brewery Bike Tour with Tastings: $100
- Philly Signature Guided Brewery Tour: $105
- Guided Craft Brewery Tours with a Snack: $120
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
- Guided Bar Crawl with Free Shots and Club Entry: $42
When comparing the travel costs between Philadelphia and Montreal, we can see that Montreal is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Philadelphia Expensive? and Is Montreal Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Philadelphia or Montreal?
Montreal has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Philadelphia. When comparing the sizes of Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia or Montreal in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Philadelphia and Montreal. Most visitors come to Philadelphia for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Philadelphia is a little warmer than Montreal. Typically, the summer temperatures in Philadelphia in July average around 77°F (25°C), and Montreal averages at about 21°C (69°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montreal this time of the year. In Philadelphia, it's very sunny this time of the year. Philadelphia usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Montreal during summer. Philadelphia gets 273 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 276 hours of full sun in the summer.
Philadelphia gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Philadelphia usually receives more rain than Montreal. Philadelphia gets 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain, while Montreal receives 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPhiladelphia 77°F (25°C)Montreal 21°C (69°F)
Should I visit Philadelphia or Montreal in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Philadelphia as well as Montreal. The autumn months attract visitors to Philadelphia because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Philadelphia is generally much warmer than Montreal. Daily temperatures in Philadelphia average around 56°F (14°C), and Montreal fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Philadelphia this time of the year. In the autumn, Philadelphia often gets more sunshine than Montreal. Philadelphia gets 202 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 141 hours of full sun.
Philadelphia usually gets less rain in October than Montreal. Philadelphia gets 1.9 inches (48 mm) of rain, while Montreal receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPhiladelphia 56°F (14°C)Montreal 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Philadelphia or Montreal in the Winter?
Both Montreal and Philadelphia are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine are the main draw to Philadelphia this time of year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Montreal. It's quite cold in Philadelphia in the winter. Philadelphia is much warmer than Montreal in the winter. The daily temperature in Philadelphia averages around 30°F (-1°C) in January, and Montreal fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).
Philadelphia usually receives more sunshine than Montreal during winter. Philadelphia gets 152 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 103 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Philadelphia usually receives less rain than Montreal. Philadelphia gets 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain, while Montreal receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPhiladelphia 30°F (-1°C)Montreal -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Philadelphia or Montreal in the Spring?
Both Montreal and Philadelphia during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Philadelphia for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Philadelphia is much warmer than Montreal. Typically, the spring temperatures in Philadelphia in April average around 52°F (11°C), and Montreal averages at about 6°C (43°F).
It's quite sunny in Philadelphia. In the spring, Philadelphia often gets more sunshine than Montreal. Philadelphia gets 216 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 183 hours of full sun.
Philadelphia usually gets less rain in April than Montreal. Philadelphia gets 2.8 inches (70 mm) of rain, while Montreal receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPhiladelphia 52°F (11°C)Montreal 6°C (43°F)
Typical Weather for Montreal and Philadelphia
| Philadelphia | Montreal | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) | -10°C (14°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Feb | 33°F (1°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) | -9°C (16°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 42°F (6°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | -2°C (28°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Apr | 52°F (11°C) | 2.8 inches (70 mm) | 6°C (43°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 63°F (17°C) | 2.8 inches (70 mm) | 13°C (55°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 72°F (22°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) | 18°C (64°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jul | 77°F (25°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) | 21°C (69°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Aug | 76°F (24°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 19°C (67°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Sep | 68°F (20°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | 14°C (58°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Oct | 56°F (14°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) | 8°C (47°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 46°F (8°C) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) | 2°C (35°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Dec | 36°F (2°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | -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.