A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Portland vs. Quebec City for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Portland or Quebec City?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Portland and Quebec City can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Portland or Quebec City?

Portland

Referred to as "The City of Roses", Portland is the largest city in Oregon. It sits on the banks of the Columbia River and offers breathtaking views of Mount Hood when the weather allows. Portland is famous for its alternative vibe, live music scene, and popular microbreweries. It's also a mecca for environmentally conscious urban planning. The downtown area is quite compact and walkable. While the city itself may be smaller than you expect, it is still the largest metropolitan area between San Francisco and Seattle.

Quebec City

Quebec City is the capital of the Quebec province. It has a dramatic location on the cliffs by St. Lawrence Seaway and the city's Old Town has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Quebec is a mid sized city with a population of about 700,000. Most of the economy is administrative and bureaucratic, but the city has a very impressive history as the fortress capital of New France. French is the official language of the entire province, but most people in the tourist areas of Quebec City speak English.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Canada, and The Best Northern Lights Tours in Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Quebec City or Portland?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Portland is $180, while the average daily cost in Quebec City is $126. 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 Portland and Quebec City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Portland $97
    Quebec City $73
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Portland $194
    Quebec City $146
Compare Hotels in Portland and Quebec City

Looking for a hotel in Portland or Quebec City? 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 Portland


Hotels in Quebec City


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: Portland Hotel Prices and Quebec City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Portland $28
    Quebec City $16

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Portland

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

  • Portland Airport (PDX) to Beaverton hotel - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $151
  • Portland Airport (PDX) to Lake Oswego - Arrival Private Transfer: $71
  • Portland Airport (PDX) to Lake Oswego - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $142
  • Portland Airport (PDX) to Portland downtown - Arrival Private Transfer: $61
  • Portland Airport (PDX) to Tigard hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer: $75
  • Portland Airport to The Summit at Snoqualmie Arrival Transfer: $186
  • Portland International Airport - Private transfer from/to Oregon City: $127
  • Portland downtown to Portland Airport (PDX) - Departure Private Transfer: $61
  • Private Transfer from Portland Airport (PDX) to Astoria Port: $87
  • Waterfall Express -PDX: Waterfall Trolley Tickets + Transfer: $60

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Quebec City

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Quebec City are as follows:


  • Parking in Quebec City
    $3.63

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quebec City

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Quebec City:

  • YQB Quebec City Airport Cruise Terminal Train Station Transfer: $99
  • YQB Airport Transfer: $97
  • Transfer in Private Vehicle from Quebec Airport (YQB) - Quebec City Center: $71
  • Quebec to Le Terminal Quebec Port - Departure Private Transfer: $97
  • Quebec city private transfer: $97
  • Jean Lesage Arrivals Private Airport Transfer: $108
  • Quebec Airport (YQB) to Downtown private transfer: $117
  • Québec Airport (YQB): Transfer to Le Terminal Quebec Port: $228
  • Québec Airport (YQB) to Le Terminal Quebec Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $114
  • Québec Airport (YQB) to Le Terminal Cruise Port -Arrival Transfer: $57
  • Private Transfer from Quebec City to YQB airport: $108
  • Private Transfer from Quebec City Hotels to Saguenay Cruise Port: $93

Is it cheaper to fly into Portland or Quebec City?

Prices for flights to both Quebec City and Portland 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
    Portland $43
    Quebec City $37
Typical Food Prices in Portland

For Portland, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Afternoon Drinks (for 2)
    $9.50

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Portland

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

  • Portland Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $70
  • Walking Pizza Tour: $75
  • Secret Food Tour with Local Guide: $94
  • Brunch on Mississippi Food Tour: $95
  • Downtown Portland Food Tour : $99
  • Downtown Food Tour: $102
  • The Vibrant Kerns Hood Food Tour: $105
  • The Bustling Buckman Hood Food Tour: $105
  • Portland Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $109
  • Mississippi Avenue Walking Food Tour: $110
  • All-Inclusive Downtown Portland Food Tour: $119
  • All-Inclusive Walking Food Tour: $119

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quebec City

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Quebec City.

  • 5-Course Dinner Cruise with Music & VIP Option: $160
  • Old Quebec 5-Course Gourmet Food Tour: $189
  • Combo Historical and Food Tour of the Old Quebec City: $192
  • Evening Gourmet Tour 5 Course Dinner - History and Food in Old Quebec City: $192

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Portland $24
    Quebec City $24

Tours and Activities in Portland

For Portland, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Smartphone Old Port Portland, ME Audio Walking Tour APP/GPS: $6.75
  • Portland, Maine: Walking Tour Audio Guide: $8.49
  • Downtown Portland In-App Audio Tour (ENG): $9.00
  • Scavenger Hunt Adventure Smartphone Audio Guide: $10
  • Downtown Scavenger Hunt & Self-Guided Walking Tour: $13
  • Waterfront Scavenger Hunt Self-Guided Tour: $13
  • Portland (Along the Waterfront) Scavenger Hunt & Self-Guided Tour: $13
  • Portland Exploration: Self-Guided Driving & Walking Tour: $14
  • Self-Guided Sightseeing Driving Audio Tour: $15
  • Portland Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $21
  • Guided Walking Tour of Downtown Portland, Oregon: $23
  • Smartphone-Guided Walking Tour of Downtown Portland: $25

Tours and Activities in Quebec City

Here are a few actual costs in Quebec City for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Electric fatbike Tour of Québec City: $111
  • Magnificent Montmorency Falls Private E-Bike Tour: $149
  • 2-Hour Christmas Magic Tour in Old Quebec: $29
  • APP Self-Guided Tours Quebec with Audioguide: $8.74
  • Amazing Old Quebec City Classique Walking Tour with 1 Funicular Ticket included: $33
  • Animated Crime Walking Tour in Old Quebec: $19
  • Beautiful walking tour of Old Québec: $27
  • Beyond the Walls Private E-Bike Tour: $178
  • Bike Tour to Montmorency Falls from Quebec City: $126
  • City & Market Farm Tour from Québec: $34
  • Electric Bike Tour of Quebec City: $126
  • Fatbike tour of Québec city in the winter: $102

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Portland $17
    Quebec City $18

Sample the Local Flavors in Portland

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Portland:

  • Haunted Underground Shanghai Tunnel Tour with Brewery Tastings: $40
  • Portland Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $40
  • Weird Bar Crawl with Fanatical Local: $59
  • Guided Bike Tour with Brewery Visits: $65
  • Portland, Maine: Old Port Brewery & Pub Walking Tour: $89
  • Portland, Maine: Local Brewery & Spirits Bus Tour: $99
  • Waterfalls, Mt Hood, and Wine Tour (Tasting Fees Included): $135
  • Silver Falls Hike and Wine Tour: $179
  • Willamette Valley Wine Tasting from Portland: $189
  • From Willamette Valley Full-Day Wine Tour: $210
  • Willamette Valley Wine Tour - Full Day Tour: $225
  • Willamette Valley Wine Tour with Lunch: $230

Sample the Local Flavors in Quebec City

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Quebec City:

  • Honey and Distillery Tour with Tasting: $21
  • Craft Brewery and Beer Tasting Tour: $50
  • Island of Orleans Wine Tour: $91
  • Wine Tasting on Ile d'Orleans: $92
  • Quebec City : eTandem Rental on Ile d'Orleans-wine tasting: $116


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Portland and Quebec City, we can see that Portland is more expensive. And not only is Quebec City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Quebec City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Quebec City 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 Portland would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Portland than you might in Quebec City.

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


Which is Bigger, Portland or Quebec City?

Portland has a larger population, and is about 2% larger than the population of Quebec City. When comparing the sizes of Portland and Quebec City, 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.