Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Mesa, CA and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Mesa, CA and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,758 per month in Costa Mesa, CA vs $2,085 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,210 per month in Costa Mesa, CA vs $3,174 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,662 per month in Costa Mesa, CA vs $4,262 in Montreal, rent included.

Costa Mesa, CA costs about 80% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Costa Mesa, CA and Montreal sit above the global median – Costa Mesa, CA by 181%, Montreal by 56%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.24 $20.24

$16.52 CA$23.16

22.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.9 $79.9

$74.0 CA$104

7.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.10 $12.10

$10.94 CA$15.34

10.60%

Cappuccino

$5.07 $5.07

$3.84 CA$5.39

32.03%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$2.14 CA$2.99

56.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.45 CA$2.03

53.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.15 $7.15

$6.13 CA$8.60

16.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.16 $8.16

$6.73 CA$9.44

21.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$2.35 CA$3.30

-50.64%

White Bread (500g)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.34 CA$4.68

21.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$3.74 CA$5.25

16.84%

Eggs

$4.97 $4.97

$3.39 CA$4.76

46.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.69 $10.69

$16.30 CA$22.85

-34.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.50 $8.50

$11.81 CA$16.56

-28.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.79 $14.79

$15.64 CA$21.93

-5.43%

Apples (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$3.69 CA$5.18

17.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 $1.90

$1.70 CA$2.39

11.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$4.11 CA$5.76

5.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.41 CA$6.18

24.94%

Potato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$2.79 CA$3.91

61.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.64 CA$3.70

10.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.29 CA$3.21

-12.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.78 CA$2.50

21.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.20 $11.20

$13.17 CA$18.47

-14.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.92 $14.92

$10.64 CA$14.92

40.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.99 CA$4.19

-35.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.44 CA$4.82

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.81 CA$3.94

-30.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.8 CA$102

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.45 $6.45

$3.52 CA$4.93

83.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.45 CA$2.04

93.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.71 $29.71

$34.29 CA$48.08

-13.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.22 CA$1.72

4.92%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.2K $24.2K

$25.3K CA$35.4K

-4.28%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.3K $24.3K

$22.1K CA$31.0K

9.62%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$284 $284

$76.5 CA$107

271.76%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$51.6 $51.6

$35.60 CA$49.91

44.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.2 $60.2

$42.96 CA$60.2

40.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.41 $40.41

$43.39 CA$60.8

-6.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.83 CA$23.60

Cinema Ticket

$15.28 $15.28

$11.09 CA$15.55

37.78%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,196 $1,196

$625 CA$876

91.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.4K $23.4K

$5,896 CA$8,266

297.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 $54.7

$63.1 CA$88.5

-13.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.74 $34.74

$44.50 CA$62.4

-21.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 $85.1

$103 CA$144

-17.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$118 CA$166

-12.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,781 $2,781

$1,207 CA$1,692

130.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,465 $2,465

$965 CA$1,353

155.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,948 $3,948

$2,031 CA$2,848

94.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,867 $3,867

$1,577 CA$2,211

145.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,085 CA$7,129

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,783 CA$5,304

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,283 $6,283

$2,890 CA$4,051

117.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.58

5.01

31.34%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Costa Mesa, CA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Montreal: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,781 in Costa Mesa, CA versus $1,207 in Montreal. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 117% higher in Costa Mesa, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Costa Mesa, CA versus $74.0 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story – $386 in Costa Mesa, CA vs $395 in Montreal – so Costa Mesa, CA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Costa Mesa, CA vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Costa Mesa, CA costs about 80% more than Montreal, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,637 per month in Costa Mesa, CA and $3,127 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Montreal, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,758 in Costa Mesa, CA and $2,085 in Montreal. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,196 per month in Costa Mesa, CA and $625 in Montreal. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,085, than in Costa Mesa, CA at $3,758. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Costa Mesa, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,085 versus $3,758 in Costa Mesa, CA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Costa Mesa, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.