A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Tucson vs. Montreal for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Tucson or Montreal?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Tucson and Montreal can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Tucson or Montreal?

Tucson

Tucson, Arizona, is a vibrant city nestled in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, renowned for its dramatic mountain landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and sunny, dry climate. As a gateway to the American Southwest, Tucson blends a laid-back atmosphere with strong Mexican and Native American influences, creating a unique desert city experience. Its historic neighborhoods feature colorful adobe architecture, lively murals, and a thriving arts scene. Nature lovers are drawn to Tucson for its easy access to saguaro-studded national parks, hiking trails, and breathtaking sunsets. With a strong university presence, the city pulses with youthful energy, affordable entertainment, and a dynamic culinary scene. Budget travelers will appreciate Tucson’s range of low-cost attractions and accessible public spaces, making it an excellent base for exploring both city sights and the nearby wilderness. Whether you’re interested in history, outdoor adventures, or simply soaking up desert vibes, Tucson offers something for every traveler.

Montreal

While Quebec City is the political capital of Quebec Province, Montreal is the economic and cultural capital. It's also the second largest city in Canada, with a population of about 1.9 million and 4 million in the metropolitan area. It's the second largest French speaking city in the world behind Paris.

Montreal is a very trendy and vibrant city with an active nightlife and countless activities to enjoy. It's located on an island in the St. Lawrence River and has a humid continental climate. There are four distinct seasons. Summers are warm or hot and humid. Spring and fall are mild and winters are cold and snowy. You can expect about 2 meters of snow every year, but there are also more than 2,000 hours of sunshine annually.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, The Best Train & Rail Tours in Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Montreal or Tucson?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Tucson Prices
    USA Prices
    Montreal Prices
    Canada Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Tucson $184
    Montreal $235

The average daily cost (per person) in Tucson is $184, while the average daily cost in Montreal is $235. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Tucson and Montreal in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tucson $93
    Montreal $131
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tucson $186
    Montreal $262
Compare Hotels in Tucson and Montreal

Looking for a hotel in Tucson or Montreal? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Tucson


Hotels in Montreal


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Tucson Hotel Prices and Montreal Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tucson $27
    Montreal $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montreal

Also for Montreal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer Montreal International Airport to Quebec City: $995
  • Transfer Montreal International Airport to Downtown Montreal: $187
  • Private Transfer from Montreal Cruise Port to Montreal City: $99
  • Private Transfer from Montreal City to Montreal (YUL) Airport: $110
  • Private Transfer from Montreal Airport (YUL) to Montreal Port: $98
  • Private Transfer To Quebec From Montreal YUL Airport: $394
  • Private Transfer To Montreal YUL Airport From Mont-Tremblant: $232
  • Private Transfer To Mont-Tremblant From Montreal YUL Airport: $215
  • Private Transfer Montreal International Airport to Ottawa: $703
  • Private One Way Transfer from Montreal to Montreal Airport: $64
  • Private Departure Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL: $48
  • Private Airport Transfer In/Out of Montreal: $200

Is it cheaper to fly into Tucson or Montreal?

Prices for flights to both Montreal and Tucson change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Tucson $63
    Montreal $62

Typical Food Prices in Montreal

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Montreal:


  • Tim Hortons breakfast and coffee
    $8.96

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montreal

For Montreal, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Bateau-Mouche Cruise with A La Carte Dinner Option: $61
  • Jean-Talon & Little Italy Food Tour with 8 Tasting: $77
  • Jean-Talon Market Hidden Gems Guided Food Tour: $78
  • Beyond the Market Non-Touristy Food Tour by Spade & Palacio: $81
  • Mile End District Food Tour with 8+ Tastings: $81
  • Montreal Cooking Class - Learn to make Dim Sums: $84
  • Guided Happy Hour Brew Tour in Montreal with Dinner: $84
  • Jean-Talon Market & Little Italy Food Tour with 8 Tastings: $88
  • Montreal Mile End or Jean Talon Market Food Tour with 8 Tastings: $88
  • Old Montreal Food & Drink Tour by Local Montreal Food Tours: $114
  • Cooking Class & Lunch with Michelin-Trained Chef: $128
  • Jewish Neighborhood Food Tour: $129

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tucson $16
    Montreal $21

Typical Entertainment Prices in Montreal

For Montreal, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Botanical Gardens (family of 4)
    $53

Tours and Activities in Montreal

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montreal.

  • Experience Montréal Axe Throwing Adventure: $29
  • The Ultimate Montreal Boat Tour – Fall Colors Apéro Edition : $23
  • 1 Hour Downtown Montreal Tour: $24
  • 1-Hour Jet Ski Guided Tour – Explore Montreal Waterways in Style!: $139
  • 1h-Relaxing day or sunset cruise in Montreal: $127
  • 1hr Sunset Boat tour on the St Lawrence River Old Port Montreal: $23
  • 3 Day and 2 Night Tour: Toronto, 1000 Islands, and Niagara Falls: $300
  • 3 Days 2 Nights Tour in New York: $300
  • 3 Hour Montreal City Bike Tour with Wine or Beer (AM & PM): $67
  • A Walking Tour of Old Montreal: $25
  • AURA experience at Notre-Dame Basilica and guided cruise: $75
  • All about Montreal's Murals - Saturday Walking Tour: $24

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tucson $16
    Montreal $16

Typical Alcohol Prices in Montreal

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Montreal:


  • Vodka
    $18

Sample the Local Flavors in Montreal

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montreal:

  • Haunted Pub Crawl: $24
  • Haunted Montreal Pub Crawl: $24
  • Guided Bar Crawl with Free Shots and Club Entry: $41
  • Guided Pub Crawl of the City's Skyline Bars: $85


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tucson and Montreal, we can see that Montreal is more expensive. And not only is Tucson much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tucson would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tucson and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Montreal would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Montreal than you might in Tucson.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tucson Expensive? and Is Montreal Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Tucson or Montreal?

Montreal has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Tucson. When comparing the sizes of Tucson and Montreal, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.