Comparison · Boston vs Montreal · United States / Canada
Boston vs Montreal
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ian Howard, CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
Choose Boston for Freedom Trail, American Revolution history, beaches and a milder winter; choose Montreal for Bagels and smoked meat, Old Montreal and lower day-to-day costs. Montreal is generally less expensive, and the two are about 403 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 403 km
- Less expensive
- Montreal
- Best time for Boston
- May–June and September–October
- Best time for Montreal
- June–October
Side by side
| Boston | Montreal | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | Canada |
| Known for | Freedom Trail, American Revolution history and Clam chowder | Bagels and smoked meat, Old Montreal and French language |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September–October | June–October |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $260–$420 | $170–$300 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 28°C (82°F) | July, 26°C (79°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 3°C (37°F) | January, -5°C (23°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 10 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 4 |
| Beaches | Revere Beach | — |
| Airports | BOS, PVD, MHT | YUL |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Boston for…
Freedom Trail, American Revolution history, beaches and a milder winter. Boston is one of the oldest cities in the US and one of the most walkable: the 4-km Freedom Trail links sixteen Revolutionary-era sites from Boston Common to Bunker Hill, and most central neighbourhoods are within a 30-minute walk of each other. Visitors…
Choose Montreal for…
Bagels and smoked meat, Old Montreal and lower day-to-day costs. Montreal sits on an island in the St. Lawrence River around Mount Royal, the hill that gave the city its name. North America's largest French-speaking city combines a 17th-century old town, a modern downtown linked by underground passages and walkable…
Top sights compared
| # | Boston | Montreal |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Freedom Trail | Old Montreal |
| 2 | Boston Common and Public Garden | Notre-Dame Basilica |
| 3 | Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market | Mount Royal Park |
| 4 | Museum of Fine Arts | Saint Joseph's Oratory |
| 5 | Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum | Old Port |
Food compared
| Boston | Montreal |
|---|---|
| New England clam chowder | Montreal-style bagel |
| Lobster roll | Smoked meat |
| Fried clams | Poutine |
| Oysters | Maple taffy |
Which is cheaper?
Montreal is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $170–$300 per person there, against $260–$420 in Boston (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Montreal on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Boston and Montreal are about 403 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Boston and 4 in Montreal.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Boston or Montreal cheaper?
Montreal is usually less expensive: about $170–$300 a day mid-range against $260–$420 (estimates).
+Is Boston or Montreal better for a first trip?
Pick Boston for Freedom Trail, American Revolution history, beaches and a milder winter, or Montreal for Bagels and smoked meat, Old Montreal and lower day-to-day costs.
+How far is Boston from Montreal?
About 403 km in a straight line.