Comparison · Montreal vs Toronto · Canada
Montreal vs Toronto
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Montreal for Bagels and smoked meat and Old Montreal; choose Toronto for CN Tower, Multicultural food and beaches. Montreal is generally less expensive, and the two are about 504 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 504 km
- Less expensive
- Montreal
- Best time for Montreal
- June–October
- Best time for Toronto
- May–October
Side by side
| Montreal | Toronto | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Canada | Canada |
| Known for | Bagels and smoked meat, Old Montreal and French language | CN Tower, Multicultural food and Toronto Islands |
| Best time to visit | June–October | May–October |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $170–$300 | $200–$350 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 26°C (79°F) | July, 27°C (81°F) |
| Coldest month | January, -5°C (23°F) | January, -1°C (30°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 10 | 8 |
| Day trips in our guide | 4 | 5 |
| Beaches | — | Woodbine Beach |
| Airports | YUL | YYZ, YTZ |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Montreal for…
Bagels and smoked meat and Old Montreal. 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…
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Choose Toronto for…
CN Tower, Multicultural food and beaches. Toronto is Canada's largest city, spread along the north shore of Lake Ontario around a compact downtown of glass towers, Victorian streets and the CN Tower. Visitors come for big museums such as the ROM and the AGO, food from every corner of the world in…
Top sights compared
| # | Montreal | Toronto |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old Montreal | CN Tower |
| 2 | Notre-Dame Basilica | Ripley's Aquarium of Canada |
| 3 | Mount Royal Park | Royal Ontario Museum |
| 4 | Saint Joseph's Oratory | Art Gallery of Ontario |
| 5 | Old Port | St. Lawrence Market |
Food compared
| Montreal | Toronto |
|---|---|
| Montreal-style bagel | Peameal bacon sandwich |
| Smoked meat | Butter tart |
| Poutine | Jamaican beef patty |
| Maple taffy | Trinidadian roti |
Which is cheaper?
Montreal is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $170–$300 per person there, against $200–$350 in Toronto (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Montreal on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Montreal and Toronto are about 504 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Montreal and 4 in Toronto.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Montreal or Toronto cheaper?
Montreal is usually less expensive: about $170–$300 a day mid-range against $200–$350 (estimates).
+Is Montreal or Toronto better for a first trip?
Pick Montreal for Bagels and smoked meat and Old Montreal, or Toronto for CN Tower, Multicultural food and beaches.
+How far is Montreal from Toronto?
About 504 km in a straight line.