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Montreal or Toronto? An honest comparison
The short answer
Pick Montreal for a European-feeling, French-speaking city with a historic old town, a strong food scene and a better festival summer — and it is cheaper, about €172 a day mid-range against €214 in Toronto. Pick Toronto for a bigger, more international city, the CN Tower, food from every corner of the world and an easy day trip to Niagara Falls. Avoid Montreal in January unless you like −6°C days.
Montreal: suits couples, solo travellers and friends who want history, French culture, bagels and smoked meat, and lively nights out.
Toronto: suits families and first-timers who want big-city sights, neighbourhood food from around the world and Niagara Falls nearby.
Side by side
| Montreal | Toronto | |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range day* | €173 C$277 local | €215 C$345 local |
| Budget day* | €75 | €104 |
| Value for money | ●●●●●Cheaper hotels and food than Toronto. | ●●●●●Hotels are expensive for Canada. |
| Crowds (5 = calm) | ●●●●●Old Montreal is busy in summer; elsewhere relaxed. | ●●●●●Downtown and the CN Tower are busy; neighbourhoods feel calm. |
| Food | ●●●●●Bagels, smoked meat, poutine and excellent markets. | ●●●●●Food from every immigrant community, from roti to dim sum. |
| Nightlife | ●●●●●Late bars on Saint-Laurent and the Plateau; big summer festivals. | ●●●●●Plenty of bars and clubs, but closes earlier than Montreal. |
| Family-friendly | ●●●●●Mount Royal, the Biodome and Old Port activities. | ●●●●●CN Tower, aquarium, islands and Niagara day trips. |
| Getting around | ●●●●●Good metro, walkable neighbourhoods, bike-share. | ●●●●●Subway and streetcars, though the city is spread out. |
| Best months | May, Sep | May, Sep |
| Warmest / coolest | Jul 25°C / Jan -6°C | Jul 26°C / Jan 0°C |
| Known for | Notre-Dame Basilica, Mount Royal Park, Old Montreal, Jean-Talon Market | CN Tower, Niagara Falls, Kensington Market, diverse neighbourhood dining |
* Per person per day with two sharing a room: bed, food, sights and local transport, from our Montreal and Toronto day-cost tables (approximate 2026 prices; other currencies converted at recent rates). Ratings are our editorial judgement.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Montreal if…
- you want a historic old town with a European feel
- you want to hear French and experience Quebec culture
- you want classic Montreal food: bagels, smoked meat and poutine
- you are visiting in summer for the festivals
Pick Toronto if…
- you want to see Niagara Falls
- you are travelling with children
- you want a big-city skyline and the CN Tower
- you want the widest choice of international food
Weather month by month
| Month | Montreal high / rainy days | Toronto high / rainy days |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | -6°C · 10 | 0°C · 8 |
| Feb | -4°C · 13 | 1°C · 11 |
| Mar | 3°C · 13 | 6°C · 11 |
| Apr | 12°C · 12 | 12°C · 13 |
| May | 19°C · 9 | 18°C · 8 |
| Jun | 23°C · 15 | 24°C · 10 |
| Jul | 25°C · 14 | 26°C · 14 |
| Aug | 24°C · 13 | 26°C · 13 |
| Sep | 20°C · 9 | 22°C · 8 |
| Oct | 14°C · 11 | 16°C · 11 |
| Nov | 5°C · 9 | 8°C · 10 |
| Dec | 0°C · 14 | 4°C · 12 |
Average daily high and number of rainy days. Copernicus ERA5, 2021–2023.
What you will eat
Montreal
Smoked meat sandwich · Montreal bagel · Poutine · Steamed hot dogs · Portuguese grilled chicken · Meat pie
Where: Jean-Talon Market, Little Italy, Atwater Market, Saint-Henri, Mile End, Boulevard Saint-Laurent and the Plateau
Toronto
Peameal bacon sandwich · Jamaican beef patty · Doubles and roti · Dim sum · Butter tart · Souvlaki and Greek grill
Where: St. Lawrence Market, Old Town, Kensington Market, Chinatown, Spadina Avenue, Danforth Avenue (Greektown)
Doing both in one trip
7 days: 4 in Toronto + 3 in Montreal
Start in Toronto with a Niagara day trip, then go east to Montreal; you can continue to Quebec City or fly home from Montreal.
Getting between them: VIA Rail train, about 5 h city centre to city centre; flights take about 1 h 15 plus airport time; driving is roughly 540 km and about 5 h 30. Distance about 502 km as the crow flies. Check current timetables.
- Day 1–4: Toronto — CN Tower, St. Lawrence and Kensington markets, the Toronto Islands, a day trip to Niagara Falls
- Day 5: Train to Montreal, evening in Old Montreal
- Day 6–7: Mount Royal, Jean-Talon Market, Mile End bagels, Notre-Dame Basilica, a night on the Plateau
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Common questions
Is Montreal or Toronto cheaper?
Montreal. Our mid-range estimate is about €172 per person per day in Montreal against €214 in Toronto. Hotels and restaurants cost noticeably less in Montreal, and a smoked-meat sandwich or bagel lunch is cheap. Toronto's hotel prices are among the highest in Canada, especially when big events or conferences are on.
How do I get from Toronto to Montreal?
VIA Rail trains run several times a day and take about 5 hours, centre to centre, which is comfortable and avoids airport time. Flights take about 1 h 15 in the air, so they only save time if you are travelling light and close to an airport. Driving is about 540 km and roughly 5 h 30 along Highway 401.
Do I need to speak French in Montreal?
No. Most people working in hotels, restaurants and shops in central Montreal speak English as well as French. Signs are in French, and starting with a simple 'bonjour' is appreciated. Outside Montreal, in smaller Quebec towns, English is less common, so a few French phrases are more useful there.
When is the best time to visit?
Our data picks May and September for both: comfortable temperatures and fewer crowds than July and August. Summer is warm, around 25–26°C, and brings festivals, especially in Montreal. Winter is cold in both, with January averaging about −6°C in Montreal and around 0°C in Toronto, though Montreal's winter festivals and underground city help.