Budget · Montreal · Canada
Montreal on a budget
What a trip to Montreal really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Montreal is moderately priced for most international visitors. Budget roughly $70–$120 per person per day on a tight budget, $170–$300 mid-range and $400–$900 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–April and November.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $70–$120 a day
- Mid-range
- $170–$300 a day
- Luxury
- $400–$900 a day
- Local currency
- CAD
- Free sights
- 10
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $70–$120 | $210–$360 | $350–$600 | $490–$840 |
| Mid-range | $170–$300 | $510–$900 | $850–$1,500 | $1,190–$2,100 |
| Luxury | $400–$900 | $1,200–$2,700 | $2,000–$4,500 | $2,800–$6,300 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Montreal, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Metro or bus single fare | about C$3.75 |
| 24-hour transit pass | about C$11–C$12 |
| Montreal bagel | about C$1.50–C$2.50 each |
| Smoked meat sandwich | about C$14–C$20 |
| Poutine | about C$10–C$18 |
| Pint of local beer | about C$7–C$10 |
| Bistro table d'hôte dinner | about C$40–C$70 per person |
Money-saving tips
- A 24-hour or 3-day STM pass covers the 747 airport bus, so buy one on arrival.
- Bring-your-own-wine restaurants cut the cost of dinner considerably; buy a bottle at an SAQ store.
- Table d'hôte set menus, especially at lunch, are better value than ordering à la carte.
- Many festival concerts, including much of the Jazz Festival programme, are free and outdoors.
- Hotel prices are lowest from November to April, outside the Christmas holidays and festival weekends.
- Prices exclude about 15% sales tax and tips go on top, so add roughly a third to restaurant menu prices.
Free things to do
- Old Montreal — Founded as Ville-Marie in 1642, Old Montreal keeps cobbled lanes, stone warehouses and grand bank buildings along Rue Saint-Paul and Rue Saint-Jacques.
- Mount Royal Park — Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also created New York's Central Park, the park covers the mountain that gave Montreal its name.
- Saint Joseph's Oratory — Canada's largest church rises on the northern slope of Mount Royal under one of the largest domes in the world.
- Old Port — The Old Port's 2.5 km waterfront runs along the St.
- Jean-Talon Market — Opened in 1933, Jean-Talon is an open-air market that trades all year, enclosed in winter, with Quebec farmers' produce, cheese counters, maple products, bakeries and food stalls.
- Lachine Canal — Opened in 1825 to bypass the river rapids, the 14.5 km Lachine Canal is now a linear park with a bike and walking path from the Old Port to Lachine.
Where to stay on a budget
$$ · Best for food lovers, solo travellers, budget and culture
Mile End
Bagel bakeries, cafés and artists' studios
$$ · Best for nightlife, budget and solo travellers
Le Village and Quartier Latin
LGBTQ+ nightlife, student bars and the main metro interchange
$$ · Best for food lovers, families and quiet stays
Little Italy
Jean-Talon Market, espresso bars and family trattorias
Eating well for less
- Montreal-style bagel — St-Viateur and Fairmount in Mile End, both baking around the clock and selling them hot by the dozen.
- Steamies — Casse-croûtes and diners across the city, especially along Boulevard Saint-Laurent.
Getting around for less
STM 1-day and 3-day passes
Unlimited travel on the metro and buses for 24 or 72 hours, including the 747 airport bus, which makes them good value if you arrive by air.
OPUS card
The reloadable fare card used across the metro, buses and regional trains; single fares and passes can be loaded onto it.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Montreal cost?
About $850–$1,500 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $350–$600 on a tight budget.
+Is Montreal expensive?
It is moderately priced for international visitors. A 24-hour or 3-day STM pass covers the 747 airport bus, so buy one on arrival.
+How much money do I need per day in Montreal?
Roughly $70–$120 on a budget and $170–$300 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Montreal?
Usually in January–April and November.