Which place is cheaper, Montreal or Saint Petersburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Montreal?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint Petersburg 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: Saint Petersburg or Montreal?
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a beautiful city that sits on the eastern edge of the Baltic Sea. Its historical city center is threaded with canals and architecturally impressive buildings, leaving little doubt as to why this city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the second largest city in Russia, but perhaps a favorite among travelers. The metropolitan area has a population of over 5 million as well as an impressive culture with fascinating museums, restaurants, and architecture. The city has no shortage of sights and attractions, and many days can be passed while you wander its intricate streets.
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 Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint Petersburg $64Montreal $210
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint Petersburg is $64, while the average daily cost in Montreal is $210. 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 Saint Petersburg and Montreal in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint Petersburg $37Montreal $132
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint Petersburg $74Montreal $264
Compare Hotels in Saint Petersburg and Montreal
Looking for a hotel in Saint Petersburg 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: Montreal Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint Petersburg $7.42Montreal $21
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint Petersburg
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Saint Petersburg:
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Metro Passes$1.36
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
- Transfer in private minivan from Montreal City Center to Pierre Elliott Airport: $73
- 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: $38
- One Way Private transfer from Montreal Airport to/ from Montreal: $84
- Private Departure Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL: $116
- Arrival Transfer from International Airport: $65
- Montreal Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL in Luxury Van: $170
- Montreal Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL in Luxury SUV: $163
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint Petersburg or Montreal?
Prices for flights to both Montreal and Saint Petersburg 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 daySaint Petersburg $19Montreal $36
Typical Food Prices in Saint Petersburg
For Saint Petersburg, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$4.69
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$9.04
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
- Mile End Montreal Original Food Tour - by Local Montreal Tours: $89
- 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
- The 10 Tastings of Montreal Private Walking Food Tour : $298
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint Petersburg $18Montreal $21
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)$54
Tours and Activities in Montreal
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montreal.
- 1 Hour Downtown Montreal Tour: $29
- 1 Hour Tour of Old-Montreal in Vintage Convertible Cadillac: $220
- 2 hour Tour of The Montreal Bagel: $44
- 3 Days 2 Nights Tour in New York: $300
- 3 Hour Montreal City Bike Tour with Wine or Beer (AM & PM): $64
- 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: $8.76
- AURA experience at Notre-Dame Basilica and guided cruise: $73
- 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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint Petersburg $9.86Montreal $16
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
- 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 Saint Petersburg and Montreal, we can see that Montreal is more expensive. And not only is Saint Petersburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint Petersburg 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 Saint Petersburg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Saint Petersburg 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 Saint Petersburg.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Saint Petersburg Expensive? and Is Montreal Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Montreal?
Saint Petersburg has a larger population, and is about 24% larger than the population of Montreal. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg 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 Saint Petersburg 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 Saint Petersburg or Montreal in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Petersburg and Montreal.
In the summer, Saint Petersburg is cooler than Montreal. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint Petersburg in July average around 18°C (64°F), 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 Saint Petersburg, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint Petersburg usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Montreal during summer. Saint Petersburg gets 267 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 276 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Montreal. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (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 JulySaint Petersburg 18°C (64°F)Montreal 21°C (69°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Montreal in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as Montreal.
In October, Saint Petersburg is generally cooler than Montreal. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 6°C (42°F), and Montreal fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
In the autumn, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Montreal. Saint Petersburg gets 70 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 141 hours of full sun.
Saint Petersburg usually gets less rain in October than Montreal. Saint Petersburg gets 65 mm (2.6 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 OctoberSaint Petersburg 6°C (42°F)Montreal 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Montreal in the Winter?
Both Montreal and Saint Petersburg are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
Montreal can be very cold during winter. Saint Petersburg can get quite cold in the winter. Saint Petersburg is a little warmer than Montreal in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around -8°C (18°F) in January, and Montreal fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).
Saint Petersburg usually receives less sunshine than Montreal during winter. Saint Petersburg gets 22 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 103 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Montreal. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 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 JanuarySaint Petersburg -8°C (18°F)Montreal -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Montreal in the Spring?
Both Montreal and Saint Petersburg during the spring are popular places to visit.
Saint Petersburg can be very cold during spring. In the spring, Saint Petersburg is cooler than Montreal. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint Petersburg in April average around 4°C (40°F), and Montreal averages at about 6°C (43°F).
In the spring, Saint Petersburg often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Montreal. Saint Petersburg gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 183 hours of full sun.
Saint Petersburg usually gets less rain in April than Montreal. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 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 AprilSaint Petersburg 4°C (40°F)Montreal 6°C (43°F)
Typical Weather for Montreal and Saint Petersburg
| Saint Petersburg | Montreal | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -8°C (18°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | -9°C (16°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | -2°C (28°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Apr | 4°C (40°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 11°C (52°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 16°C (60°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (52°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (42°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 0°C (32°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Dec | -5°C (24°F) | 48 mm (1.9 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.