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Canada

How much does it cost to visit Montreal?

Montreal - estimate transport, lodging, and meals before you book.

From
44/day
vs Paris
72%
Best month
Jun

At a glance

Wikidata, Wikipedia and Open-Meteo data

Population
1.9M

inhabitants

Area
498 km²
Elevation
31 m
Language
French, English
Currency
CANADIAN DOLLAR

CANADIAN DOLLAR

Time zone
Eastern Time Zone
Founded
1642

About

Montreal in brief

Montreal is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest in Canada, and the eighth-largest in North America. Founded in 1642 as Ville-Marie, or "City of Mary", it now takes its name from Mount Royal, the triple-peaked mountain around which the early settlement was built. The city is centred on the Island of Montreal and a few, much smaller, peripheral islands, the largest of which is Île Bizard. It lies 196 kilometres (122 mi) east of the national capital, Ottawa, and 258 kilometres (160 mi) southwest of the provincial capital, Quebec City.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

InstantTripCost estimate

Full 7-night budget breakdown

Per-person estimate including flights from Paris, split across the six expense categories.

7 nights1435

per person · Comfort

CategoryBudgetComfortLuxury
Flights187220330
Hotel156396996
Food2104831092
Transport56126315
Activities28112378
Misc2198357
7-night total65814353468

Flight from Paris (annual median).

Why go

Why visit Montreal

People come to Montreal for the atmosphere, food, and heritage, but budget is the least-anticipated dimension of any trip: from €44 to €263 per day depending on travel style, the gap between budget and premium is easy to measure.

A standard 7-night trip averages €749 per person at mid-range comfort, flights from Paris included. Seasonality has a moderate impact on flights (max 0 % gap month to month), which simplifies planning: pick the dates that work, then optimize lodging and activities.

Real budget

What a trip to Montreal actually costs

Let's break it down. Lodging: a hostel dorm or entry-level hotel runs around €30-50 per night, a well-rated 3-star sits between €66 and €127, and 4 to 5-star quickly tops €183. Food: a simple meal costs €12-18, dinner with a glass of wine €25-40.

Local transport: expect €1.50-2 per ticket and €6-8 for a day pass. Activities: main museums charge €10-25 admission, curated experiences (guided tours, workshops, day trips) range €30-80 depending on length and format.

On a 5-to-7-day trip, lodging accounts for roughly 35-45 % of total budget, food 15-20 %, flights 20-30 % depending on the booking window, with the remainder split between local transport, activities, and miscellaneous (visa, insurance, tipping, SIM card). A Montreal trip that goes over budget is almost always because the hotel is oversized for the rest, rarely because of activities.

Seasonality

When to go and what it costs

Peak season in Montreal is summer (June through August): hotel and flight rates climb 30-60 % above winter levels. For an off-peak trip, July combines decent weather and still-reasonable prices.

Money saving

How to cut the Montreal budget

Four levers cover most of the savings potential in Montreal. First: pick a shoulder-season month over peak - on this lever alone, 10-20 % on average on flights and 15-25 % on hotels. Second: book the hotel 6 to 8 weeks ahead through a channel that aggregates market medians, rather than last-minute or a year out.

Third lever: shift your lodging zone 1-2 metro stops out of the hyper-center. In Montreal, that simple shift often halves the hotel rate at equivalent comfort, with no real loss in accessibility. Fourth: build an activities mix where one standout experience per day is enough (guided tour, workshop, day trip) - stacking 3-4 paid activities per day inflates the activities budget without real added value.

Practical info

Language, currency, and logistics in Montreal

Language: French, English, English is understood in most hotels and restaurants in tourist areas. Currency: CANADIAN DOLLAR (CANADIAN DOLLAR) - plan €50-100 in cash for the first days and use a fee-free card for the rest.

Daily detail

Price overview for Montreal

Three tiers to anchor you: what a budget traveler, a comfort traveler, and a premium traveler typically spend.

Budget

64

per day, approx

Hotel / night
26
Meal
10
Transit / day
8

Comfort

153

per day, approx

Hotel / night
66
Meal
23
Transit / day
18

Luxury

367

per day, approx

Hotel / night
166
Meal
52
Transit / day
45

When to go

Weather & best time to visit

Average temperatures and conditions by month in Montreal.

Best month to visitJune

Jan3°
Feb4°
Mar8°
Apr12°
May17°
Jun21°
Jul23°
Aug23°
Sep18°
Oct13°
Nov8°
Dec4°

Hand-picked hotels

Where to stay in Montreal

Accommodation picks by price range.

Hotel Railwayparc Montreal, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Budget9.4/10

Hotel Railwayparc Montreal, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

Hotel, rated excellent (9.4/10), central neighborhood, well connected.

From174/ night
Check availability
Tru by Hilton Montreal Centre-Ville
Budget9.2/10

Tru by Hilton Montreal Centre-Ville

Hotel, rated excellent (9.2/10), central neighborhood, well connected.

From162/ night
Check availability
Uville Hotel Montreal
Mid-range9.4/10

Uville Hotel Montreal

Hotel, rated excellent (9.4/10), central neighborhood, well connected.

From246/ night
Check availability
Courtyard by Marriott Montreal Downtown
Mid-range8.8/10

Courtyard by Marriott Montreal Downtown

Hotel, very well rated (8.8/10), central neighborhood, well connected.

From229/ night
Check availability
Le Mount Stephen
Luxury9.6/10

Le Mount Stephen

5-star, rated excellent (9.6/10), central neighborhood, well connected.

From333/ night
Check availability
The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal
Luxury9.6/10

The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal

5-star, rated excellent (9.6/10), central neighborhood, well connected.

From677/ night
Check availability

To see, to do

Things to do in Montreal

Recommended activities and tours.

  • Montreal walking tour

    Sightseeing - very well rated (4.5/5). Free to visit.

    Free

  • Local food market

    Food experience - very well rated (4.6/5). Book ahead.

    €22/ person

  • Museum day pass

    Museum - very well rated (4.4/5). Book ahead.

    €18/ person

  • Sunset viewpoint

    Nature - solid option (4.3/5). Free to visit.

    Free

  • Cooking class

    Food experience - must-do (4.8/5). Premium experience.

    €55/ person

  • Neighborhood bike ride

    Adventure - very well rated (4.5/5). Book ahead.

    €28/ person

Travel tips

Our tips to make the most of your budget in Montreal.

  1. Flight prices to Montreal vary by month - compare several weeks if you can.
  2. Book major sights online when possible to skip queues and lock prices.
  3. Use local transit passes; they usually beat single tickets after 2–3 rides.
  4. Eat one meal per day like a local (markets, lunch menus) to balance the budget.
  5. Check free museum days or city cards before you pay à la carte.

FAQ

FAQ - Montreal

How much should I budget for a trip to Montreal?
For a 7-day trip to Montreal, expect roughly €426 - €1860 per person depending on your travel style, flights included. The budget profile (hostels, local food, public transit) sits at the lower end ; mid-range comfort sits in the middle ; luxury (premium hotel, fine dining) approaches the top.
When is the best time to visit Montreal?
The best value is in June, with pleasant temperatures and usually cheaper flights than during peak tourist season. This window combines moderate crowds and lower airfare.
How do I get around in Montreal?
Local transport (metro, bus, taxi) costs an average of €8 - €45 per day depending on your style. Public transit stays the cheapest option ; a day or weekly pass usually pays off after just two rides per day.
How can I do Montreal on a budget?
For a cheap trip to Montreal, target around €44 - €67 per day per person excluding flights: a hostel or budget hotel, meals at local eateries, public transit, and 1-2 free activities per day. Across a week, plan to land below the lower bound of the global range.
What's the budget for a weekend in Montreal?
For a 3-day / 2-night weekend in Montreal, plan around €355 - €635 per person, flights included. Booking 6 to 8 weeks ahead and flying out Thursday evening / back Sunday evening cuts the total by 10-20 % on average.
Is Montreal an expensive or affordable destination?
With a cost index of 72 % versus Paris, Montreal ranks among the moderately priced destinations. For a Western European traveler, that means a daily budget close to Paris, 28 % lower on average.

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Plan your trip to Montreal

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