Which place is cheaper, Montreal or Seoul?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Seoul or Montreal?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Seoul and Montreal can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Seoul or Montreal?
Seoul
With a population of more than 11 million, Seoul is easily the largest city in South Korea. It is also the financial, political, and cultural capital of the country and has much to offer open minded travelers. It is often overlooked by travelers who instead head to Tokyo or Shanghai, but Seoul has a wide range of cultural experiences, food options, and historical sights. Seoul is a city of contrasts with ancient traditions, flashy technology, religious temples and a modern youth culture. It is also more affordable than many of the other Asian metropolis' to which it is often compared. If you're looking for an interesting and different experience that is a little off the tourist trail, Seoul can definitely offer that opportunity.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea, The Best Train & Rail Tours in Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySeoul $109Montreal $210
The average daily cost (per person) in Seoul is $109, 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 Seoul and Montreal in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSeoul $55Montreal $132
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSeoul $110Montreal $264
Compare Hotels in Seoul and Montreal
Looking for a hotel in Seoul 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: Seoul Hotel Prices and Montreal Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Seoul $16Montreal $21
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Seoul
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Seoul:
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Subway Card$3.69
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Short Taxi Ride$5.16
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Metro Ride$0.99
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Seoul City Pass Plus$7.37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seoul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seoul:
- Private Airport Transfer: Seoul City to Incheon Airport 1-12 pax: $204
- Lotte World Ticket with Private Transfer: $181
- Private Transfer from Incheon Airport to Seoul up to 12 pax: $181
- Private Transfer To/From Incheon Airport (1-12pax): $170
- Private Airport Transfer: Seoul City to Gimpo Airport (1-12 pax): $167
- Private Airport Transfer: Gimpo Airport to Seoul City (1-12 pax): $167
- Private Airport Transfer - Incheon Airport ⇔ Seoul (Up to 7 or 11 people): $138
- Private Transfer To/From Incheon Airport: $101
- Private Airport Transfer * Incheon Airport <-> Seoul (1-5 people): $100
- Private Transfer l Airport to/from Seoul: $100
- Private Airport Transfer : Incheon airport to/from Seoul(~7 pax): $99
- Private Airport Transfer: Seoul City to Incheon Airport (1-5 pax): $98
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 Seoul or Montreal?
Prices for flights to both Montreal and Seoul 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 daySeoul $30Montreal $36
Typical Food Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seoul are as follows:
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Rice with Kimchi & Bacon$4.42
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Waffle$0.74
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Dippin' Dots$1.47
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Chicken Fried Rice$4.05
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Chicken Stick$1.47
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Drinking Yoghurt & Mi Chew$1.40
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Lunch Buffet$4.42
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Donut$0.74
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Mushroom Burger$3.83
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Green Tea Ice Cream$2.43
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Udon & Sushi$5.16
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Fresh Burger$3.54
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Soba Noodles Lunch$3.32
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Bibimbap Lunch$3.69
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Fried Rice$4.05
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Vietnamese Dinner$7.00
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Breakfast and Coffee for 2$7.00
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Donut$1.84
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Seoul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seoul.
- Korean Cooking @ Seoul Cooking Club!: $0.11
- Gyeongbokgung Palace : Tour, dinner and coffee: $37
- Seoul Mangwon Market Social Night Food Tour: $44
- Namdaemun Market: the Largest Traditional Market Food Tour: $47
- Namdaemun Market Street Food Tour: $48
- Gwangjang Market Netflix Food Tour: $54
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals;Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $54
- Guided City Wall Sunset Hike with Korean Dinner: $58
- Sunset Walking Tour in Naksan Park with Dinner: $58
- Half Day Seoul Afternoon Food Tour and visit 3 landMarks of Seoul: $67
- Night Market Food Tour: $70
- Energizing Korean Cooking Class in a Local Home in Seoul: $71
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
- 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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Seoul $27Montreal $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Seoul are as follows:
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Palace Tickets$5.90
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Movie Ticket$5.90
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Kimchi Museum$2.21
Tours and Activities in Seoul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seoul are as follows:
- Full Day Tour Jeonju Hanok Village, Wansan Park and Gakwonsa: $72
- Private Tour Nami Island with Petite France 'and/or' The Garden of Morning Calm: $98
- ‘Itaewon Class’ Night Tour: $24
- 1 Day Private Full DMZ Tour in Seoul with Crystal Gondola: $220
- 2-Hour Makgeolli Tasting Experience in Seoul: $37
- 2-Hour Private Kayaking and Paddleboarding Experience in Hanriver: $30
- 2D 1N Phoenix Pyeongchang Reseot Stay + Trout Ice-Fishing Festival Tour: $144
- 3 Hour Walking Tour in Songpa Seoul: $48
- 3-Hour Self-guided Sokcho Tour with Private Transportation: $33
- 63 Aqua Planet and 63 Building Seoul Observatory Tickets: $14
- ARMY must visit BTS tour in Seoul: $55
- Activity - Mt. Bukhan Hiking Guided Tour: $150
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.
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Montreal self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $4.31
- Montréal's Mile End to Outremont: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $7.54
- Escape Game and Tour: $8.61
- APP Self-Guided Tours Montreal with Audioguide: $8.74
- Montreal Art Center & Museum Audio Guided Tour: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- 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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySeoul $12Montreal $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Seoul
Also in Seoul, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Chunpoong Makgeolli Brewery Tour: $11
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $21
- Pub Crawl: $25
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $26
- Soju Tasting at Distillery - Story of Three Pigs: $43
- Learn and Craft Makgeolli in a Traditional Brewery: $81
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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Seoul and Montreal, we can see that Montreal is more expensive. And not only is Seoul much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Seoul is in Asia 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 Seoul would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Seoul 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 Seoul.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Seoul Expensive? and Is Montreal Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Seoul or Montreal?
Seoul has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Montreal. When comparing the sizes of Seoul 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 Seoul 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 Seoul or Montreal in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Seoul as well as Montreal. The summer months attract visitors to Seoul because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Seoul is a little warmer than Montreal. Typically, the summer temperatures in Seoul in July average around 26°C (78°F), and Montreal averages at about 21°C (69°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montreal. In the summer, Seoul often gets less sunshine than Montreal. Seoul gets 121 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 276 hours of full sun.
Seoul receives a lot of rain in the summer. Seoul usually gets more rain in July than Montreal. Seoul gets 369 mm (14.5 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySeoul 26°C (78°F)Montreal 21°C (69°F)
Should I visit Seoul or Montreal in the Autumn?
Both Montreal and Seoul are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene are the main draw to Seoul this time of year.
In October, Seoul is generally much warmer than Montreal. Daily temperatures in Seoul average around 15°C (59°F), and Montreal fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Seoul. Seoul usually receives more sunshine than Montreal during autumn. Seoul gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 141 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Seoul usually receives less rain than Montreal. Seoul gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSeoul 15°C (59°F)Montreal 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Seoul or Montreal in the Winter?
Both Montreal and Seoul during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Seoul for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Montreal can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Seoul. Seoul is much warmer than Montreal in the winter. The daily temperature in Seoul averages around -3°C (27°F) in January, and Montreal fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).
In the winter, Seoul often gets more sunshine than Montreal. Seoul gets 163 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 103 hours of full sun.
Seoul usually gets less rain in January than Montreal. Seoul gets 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySeoul -3°C (27°F)Montreal -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Seoul or Montreal in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Seoul and Montreal. Many visitors come to Seoul in the spring for the activities around the city.
In the spring, Seoul is much warmer than Montreal. Typically, the spring temperatures in Seoul in April average around 13°C (55°F), and Montreal averages at about 6°C (43°F).
In Seoul, it's very sunny this time of the year. Seoul usually receives more sunshine than Montreal during spring. Seoul gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 183 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Seoul usually receives more rain than Montreal. Seoul gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSeoul 13°C (55°F)Montreal 6°C (43°F)
Typical Weather for Montreal and Seoul
| Seoul | Montreal | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -3°C (27°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Feb | -0°C (32°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | -9°C (16°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 18°C (65°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (78°F) | 369 mm (14.5 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (80°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (71°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (59°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Dec | 0°C (33°F) | 22 mm (0.9 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.