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Are you thinking of spending a weekend in Montreal, Quebec, but wonder how much money you would spend exploring this Canadian city? Having just taken a 3-day trip here myself, today I am sharing my detailed Montreal trip cost to help you with your planning.
Compared to other cities I’ve visited like Boston or Paris, I would not say that Montreal is exceptionally expensive. In fact, you’ll likely benefit from a favorable exchange rate between the Canadian Dollar and the US Dollar (Euro is favorable too).
Of course, cost will always be subjective and varies by where you stay, what you do, and how you get around. Let’s dig into the specifics of each spending category, so you have a clear idea of the potential cost of a trip to Montreal.
Here is What You Can Expect a Montreal 3-Day Trip to Cost:
I would consider this to be a conservative budget for a 3-day weekend trip to Montreal. These numbers reflect what I spent during a solo trip to the city, but I will also discuss what this trip would cost for two people below.
Let’s get into how to stay on budget during a Montreal trip, while leaving room for some worthy splurges.
Travel Savvy Tip
Don’t look at this budget as a lump sum! That’s the quickest way to get intimidated and assume that Montreal is too expensive. The truth is, you won’t pay the full amount at once. You’ll buy your flight and lodging right away, and then likely pay nothing for a few months.
Once it gets closer to your trip, you’ll book tours and restaurant reservations. When you get back home, you’ll pay off any remaining vacay expenses you’ve incurred.
Breaking it into chunks like this is a much more approachable way to budget and afford an incredible getaway to Montreal!
Montreal Budget Breakdown
Flight
$63.77
While flights to Montreal from Ohio are typically anywhere from $300-$500, I had a flight credit from a cancelled 2021 trip on Air Canada worth $443.87. I also didn’t book the cheapest flight available because I wasn’t willing to have a 5am wake-up call for an early departure. Furthermore, I like to pay a little extra to avoid basic economy these days so I can have increased flexibility with my travel plans.
My fare factors in traveling from Cleveland, Ohio (which does not have a direct route to Montreal) on United and Air Canada. This flight was scheduled a couple weeks before Christmas, which is a popular time to visit the city.
Departure cities with direct flight options, like Boston or Chicago, may find flights less than $300 during the low season (January through May). However, prices overall increase to around $400-$500 when summer returns.
Couples should budget around $600 for airfare; everyone should read the below tips to avoid overpaying for flights:
- Be flexible with your travel days. For example, weekend flights are typically the most expensive. Play around with searching different departure and arrival days, and you’ll be surprised what a difference that can make.
- Travel during the low season, when there is an overall drop in prices. In Montreal, low season runs during the cold, wet months between January and May.
- Last but not least, the tip that has helped me the most: Sign up for a credit card with travel rewards points. We’ve gotten countless free flights thanks to our cards, simply due to points earned on every day purchases. We’ve had great experiences using both the Capital One Venture and the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Transportation
$79.44
Montreal is a very walkable city with great public transportation options, including the metro, bus, taxis, and Uber. It is not necessary to rent a car to explore Montreal unless you plan on leaving the city limits.
The amount I spent getting around Montreal is broken down below:
- $35.08 – Uber from airport to Old Montreal
- $15.68 – 3-day metro pass
- $28.68 – Uber from Old Montreal to airport
Couples should budget around $100 for transportation in Montreal.
Lodging
$800.13
Aaron and I were supposed to visit Montreal together in late 2021, but sadly had to cancel. I’d only paid a deposit for one night, but it couldn’t be refunded. Instead, the hotel let me keep the $248.20 CAD as a credit to use during a future stay.
For my recent stay at Auberge du Vieux-Port, I booked a Deluxe King St-Paul View room for four nights. I had a street view, and I must admit I could hear some noise from outside (there are bars in the area). However, I’d say everything was pretty quiet by around 10pm.
Couples would spend $800 to $1,000 for a King Room over a similar timeframe in Montreal.
Groceries
$0
Although I had a tiny mini fridge in my hotel room, I did not buy any groceries during my stay. Instead, I brought a refillable water bottle, did a food tour, and dined out for most meals.
I find that it doesn’t make sense to buy groceries when I’m traveling alone, since I always end up visiting all the local eateries instead. However, I did bring some granola bars with me from home to have on hand as a snack.
Food & Drink
$174.88
Plan to spend some money in the food and drink category because Montreal is an amazing foodie city. From poutine, Montreal bagels, smoked meat sandwiches, and an influx of cuisines brought in from other cultures, you will never run out of unique restaurants to check out.
I always spend less money dining out when traveling alone than I do with my husband. That’s because I rarely drink during solo trips, while my husband and I enjoy having wine with dinner or ordering evening cocktails together. Therefore, we’d likely spend a bit more than double my solo trip total.
Couples should budget around $450 for dining out in Montreal.
Activities
$150.34
Activities are often what makes your trip, so it’s worth budgeting money for a few awesome Montreal experiences. Besides checking out some museums, I also took an Old Montreal walking tour, as well as a food tour of the trendy Mile End neighborhood. Both tours were awesome and helped me dive even deeper into what Montreal is all about.
My above activities total includes the following:
- Pointe-A-Calliere Museum: $19.19
- Food Tour: $69.95 (includes $5 tip)
- Chateau Ramezay Museum: $9.96
- Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal: $11.07
- Old Montreal Tour: $40.17 (includes $4 tip)
Don’t forget to enjoy some free sightseeing! Simply stroll on your own over the cobblestone streets of Old Montreal to window shop or appreciate the historic architecture. The riverfront also features lengthy walking and biking paths that are well-utilized by visitors and locals alike.
For panoramic vistas over the entire city, climb 300 or so stairs up Mount Royal to the cozy chalet and scenic viewing area from the park’s Peel Street entrance. Finally, stroll through one of Montreal’s historic markets to find fresh meats, cheeses, produce, gifts, and even some yummy baked goods.
Couples should budget around $300 for memorable activities in Montreal.
Montreal Trip Cost: Miscellaneous Expenses
- Shopping: $11.04 I’m not usually a big shopper when traveling. All I purchased in Montreal were cookie cutters in the shape of a moose and polar bear.
- Cell Phone: $20 You may have to pay for an international plan to make sure your phone works during your trip. Under my plan with Verizon, I pay $5 for every day I use cellular data abroad. The daily fee adds up, but it’s worth it for how often I rely on my phone for Google Maps and last minute restaurant searches. When I travel with Aaron, he keeps his phone on airplane mode so that we only pay this price for one person.
- Pet Boarding: $0 While it’s ideal to have a friend or family member that can watch your pet for free, that isn’t always possible. When Aaron and I travel together, we always pay to board our dog in a cozy little “suite” at his vet office. For this Montreal trip, though, Aaron was able to be home with him.
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Now that you have an idea of what a Montreal trip will cost, you are all set to plan an amazing getaway that doesn’t blow your budget. With the assistance of a friendly exchange rate, I didn’t need to sacrifice much in experiences or comfort to enjoy this gorgeous French Canadian city.
Are you currently saving up for a trip to Montreal?
