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

Should you visit San Antonio 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 San Antonio 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: San Antonio or Montreal?

San Antonio

The third largest city in Texas, San Antonio, has grown in recent years as a popular travel destination. It's a beautiful city that is strategically situated at the edge of Texas's Hill Country near the South Texas Plains and Prairie Lakes areas. The city holds on to its small town feel despite having a population of about 1.4 million and 2.3 million in the greater metropolitan area. The city holds tight to its Spanish and Mexican heritage, making it a fascinating cultural destination. The Hispanic population has much influence in the city and this makes it a fun and unique city to visit, particularly during Fiesta week, which is an annual celebration with parades, music and food.

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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, The Best Historical 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 San Antonio?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in San Antonio is $132, 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 San Antonio and Montreal in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Antonio $69
    Montreal $131
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Antonio $138
    Montreal $262
Compare Hotels in San Antonio and Montreal

Looking for a hotel in San Antonio 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 San Antonio


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: San Antonio Hotel Prices and Montreal Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Antonio $20
    Montreal $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in San Antonio

Some typical examples of transportation costs in San Antonio are as follows:


  • Rental Car for a Day
    $60

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Antonio

Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Antonio:

  • Galveston: One-Way Transfer GLS Airport to City: $237
  • Private Transfer: San Antonio Airport to San Antonio by Sedan, SUV or Minibus : $97
  • Private Round Trip Transfer - San Antonio International Airport (SAT): $93
  • Private One-way San Antonio Airport Transfer To/From San Antonio: $67

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
  • Departure Private Transfer: Montreal to Montreal Airport YUL in Business Car: $117
  • Departure Private Transfer: Montreal to Montreal Airport YUL in Luxury SUV: $163
  • Departure Transfer Montreal to Montreal Airport by Limos or Bus: $153
  • Downtown Direct: Montreal's Exclusive Airport Transfer: $79
  • Le Terminal Cruise Port to Québec Airport YQB Departure Transfer: $57
  • Montreal Best Private Transfer services : $82
  • Montreal Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL in Business Car: $117
  • Montreal Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL in Luxury SUV: $163
  • Arrival Transfer from International Airport: $65
  • Private Departure Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL: $116
  • Private One-way Montreal Airport Transfer To/From Montreal: $58

Is it cheaper to fly into San Antonio or Montreal?

Prices for flights to both Montreal and San Antonio 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
    San Antonio $40
    Montreal $36

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Antonio

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Antonio.

  • The Haunted Dinner Tour: $75

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.
    San Antonio $36
    Montreal $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Antonio

Here are a few typical costs in San Antonio for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Spa Treatments
    $200

Tours and Activities in San Antonio

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

  • 3 Hours Private Historic Sightseeing Tour in San Antonio : $95
  • Best of San Antonio Small Group Tour with Boat + Tower + Alamo: $169
  • Cave Without a Name Admission Ticket with Guided Cavern Tour: $25
  • Downtown San Antonio Helicopter Tour: $197
  • Half-Day Afternoon City Tour of Historic San Antonio : $65
  • Historic Downtown & Riverwalk Walking Tour: $39
  • Historic Missions Bike Tour - 2 Mission Southern Route: $65
  • Historic Missions Bike Tour - 2 Missions Northern Route: $65
  • Historic Spanish Missions Bike Tour - 3 Missions Tour: $85
  • Hopscotch Immersive Art Experience: $24
  • LEGOLAND Discovery Center San Antonio Admission Ticket: $27
  • PRIVATE Missions and More - Half-day City Tour: $149

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
    San Antonio -
    Montreal $16

Sample the Local Flavors in San Antonio

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Antonio:

  • Epic San Antonio Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam: $12
  • Death Warmed Over: San Antonio Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
  • Guided Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
  • Texas’ Oldest Haunted Pub Crawl Shared Walking Tour: $30
  • Taste of Fredericksburg Small-Group Wine Tour from San Antonio: $155

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

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


Which is Bigger, San Antonio or Montreal?

Montreal has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of San Antonio. When comparing the sizes of San Antonio 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 San Antonio 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 San Antonio or Montreal in the Summer?

Both Montreal and San Antonio during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to San Antonio for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, San Antonio is generally a little warmer than Montreal. Daily temperatures in San Antonio average around 87°F (31°C), and Montreal fluctuates around 21°C (69°F).

In Montreal, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in San Antonio. In the summer, San Antonio often gets more sunshine than Montreal. San Antonio gets 307 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 276 hours of full sun.

San Antonio usually gets less rain in July than Montreal. San Antonio gets 2.2 inches (57 mm) of rain, while Montreal receives 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    San Antonio 87°F (31°C) 
    Montreal 21°C (69°F)

Should I visit San Antonio or Montreal in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Antonio and Montreal. Many visitors come to San Antonio in the autumn for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

San Antonio is much warmer than Montreal in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Antonio averages around 73°F (23°C) in October, and Montreal fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

In San Antonio, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Antonio usually receives more sunshine than Montreal during autumn. San Antonio gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 141 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, San Antonio usually receives around the same amount of rain as Montreal. San Antonio gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Montreal receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    San Antonio 73°F (23°C) 
    Montreal 8°C (47°F)

Should I visit San Antonio or Montreal in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to San Antonio as well as Montreal. Most visitors come to San Antonio for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

The weather in Montreal can be very cold. In the winter, San Antonio is much warmer than Montreal. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Antonio in January average around 54°F (12°C), and Montreal averages at about -10°C (14°F).

In the winter, San Antonio often gets more sunshine than Montreal. San Antonio gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 103 hours of full sun.

San Antonio usually gets less rain in January than Montreal. San Antonio gets 1.8 inches (45 mm) of rain, while Montreal receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    San Antonio 54°F (12°C) 
    Montreal -10°C (14°F)

Should I visit San Antonio or Montreal in the Spring?

Both Montreal and San Antonio are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to San Antonio because of the natural beauty.

In April, San Antonio is generally much warmer than Montreal. Daily temperatures in San Antonio average around 74°F (23°C), and Montreal fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Antonio. San Antonio usually receives more sunshine than Montreal during spring. San Antonio gets 216 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 183 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, San Antonio usually receives less rain than Montreal. San Antonio gets 2.4 inches (60 mm) of rain, while Montreal receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    San Antonio 74°F (23°C) 
    Montreal 6°C (43°F)

Typical Weather for Montreal and San Antonio

San Antonio Montreal
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 54°F (12°C) 1.8 inches (45 mm) -10°C (14°F) 74 mm (2.9 in)
Feb 57°F (14°C) 1.8 inches (45 mm) -9°C (16°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)
Mar 65°F (18°C) 1.7 inches (42 mm) -2°C (28°F) 74 mm (2.9 in)
Apr 74°F (23°C) 2.4 inches (60 mm) 6°C (43°F) 78 mm (3.1 in)
May 79°F (26°C) 4.4 inches (111 mm) 13°C (55°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Jun 84°F (29°C) 3.7 inches (94 mm) 18°C (64°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
Jul 87°F (31°C) 2.2 inches (57 mm) 21°C (69°F) 91 mm (3.6 in)
Aug 87°F (31°C) 2.6 inches (66 mm) 19°C (67°F) 104 mm (4.1 in)
Sep 82°F (28°C) 3.6 inches (91 mm) 14°C (58°F) 90 mm (3.5 in)
Oct 73°F (23°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm) 8°C (47°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)
Nov 64°F (18°C) 2.6 inches (66 mm) 2°C (35°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Dec 56°F (13°C) 1.6 inches (40 mm) -7°C (20°F) 99 mm (3.9 in)