Comparison · Montreal vs Vancouver · Canada
Montreal vs Vancouver
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 Vancouver for Stanley Park, Mountains and ocean, beaches and a milder winter. Montreal is generally less expensive, and the two are about 3,686 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 3,686 km
- Less expensive
- Montreal
- Best time for Montreal
- June–October
- Best time for Vancouver
- June–September
Side by side
| Montreal | Vancouver | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Canada | Canada |
| Known for | Bagels and smoked meat, Old Montreal and French language | Stanley Park, Mountains and ocean and Seafood and sushi |
| Best time to visit | June–October | June–September |
| 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, 22°C (72°F) |
| Coldest month | January, -5°C (23°F) | January, 7°C (45°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 10 | 9 |
| Day trips in our guide | 4 | 5 |
| Beaches | — | English Bay Beach |
| Airports | YUL | YVR |
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…
Choose Vancouver for…
Stanley Park, Mountains and ocean, beaches and a milder winter. Vancouver sits on a peninsula between Burrard Inlet and False Creek, with the North Shore mountains rising across the water and Stanley Park's forest at the end of downtown. Visitors come for the seawall, beaches and mountain trails within minutes of the…
Top sights compared
| # | Montreal | Vancouver |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old Montreal | Stanley Park and the seawall |
| 2 | Notre-Dame Basilica | Vancouver Aquarium |
| 3 | Mount Royal Park | Granville Island |
| 4 | Saint Joseph's Oratory | Capilano Suspension Bridge Park |
| 5 | Old Port | Lynn Canyon Park |
Food compared
| Montreal | Vancouver |
|---|---|
| Montreal-style bagel | Sushi and the BC roll |
| Smoked meat | Wild Pacific salmon |
| Poutine | Spot prawns |
| Maple taffy | Japadog |
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 Vancouver (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Montreal on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 3,686 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 9 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Montreal or Vancouver cheaper?
Montreal is usually less expensive: about $170–$300 a day mid-range against $200–$350 (estimates).
+Is Montreal or Vancouver better for a first trip?
Pick Montreal for Bagels and smoked meat and Old Montreal, or Vancouver for Stanley Park, Mountains and ocean, beaches and a milder winter.
+How far is Montreal from Vancouver?
About 3,686 km in a straight line.