Daily costs per person in Canadian dollars. Montréal is one of the most affordable major cities in North America — BYOB restaurants, cheap transit, and free festivals keep costs low.
Daily cost breakdown
Currency: CAD (C$) (1 USD ≈ 1.36 CAD)
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Splurge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | C$35–65 | C$120–200 | C$300+ | Hostels → boutique hotels → luxury hotels |
| Food | C$20–35 | C$50–80 | C$120+ | Delis & BYOB → bistros & brunch → fine dining |
| Transport | C$5–10 | C$15–25 | C$40+ | Metro/Bixi → taxi/Uber → private transfers |
| Activities | C$0–15 | C$25–50 | C$80+ | Free sites & parks → museums → shows & tours |
| Drinks | C$10–20 | C$25–45 | C$60+ | Dépanneur beer → craft pubs → cocktail bars |
| Daily Total | C$70–145 | C$235–400 | C$600+ | $50–105 → $170–290 → $440+ |
Money-saving tips
BYOB restaurants
Montréal has hundreds of "Apportez votre vin" restaurants where you bring your own wine with no corkage fee. Buy a bottle for C$10–15 at any dépanneur and save C$30–50 per couple on restaurant wine.
Bixi bike system
A Bixi day pass costs C$6 for unlimited 45-minute rides. The city is flat and bike-friendly with dedicated lanes everywhere. Dock and undock every 40 minutes to avoid C$3 overage charges.
Festival season freebies
June through September brings free outdoor festivals — Jazz Fest, Francos, Just for Laughs, Osheaga fringe events. The Quartier des Spectacles has free concerts and art installations almost nightly.
STM transit
A weekly STM pass (C$29) covers unlimited metro and bus rides. Single fares are C$3.75. The OPUS card (C$6 for the card) loads weekly or monthly passes. Night buses run on weekends.
Cheap eats
St-Viateur bagels are C$1.25 each. Poutine at La Banquise starts at C$10. Schwartz's smoked meat sandwich is C$12. Wilensky's special is C$5.25. You can eat like a king for under C$30 a day.
Free attractions
Mont Royal lookout, Tam-Tams drum circle (Sundays), Lachine Canal bike path, street art tours, Parc La Fontaine, Old Port waterfront, and most church interiors are completely free.
