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 $3,738 per month in Costa Mesa, CA vs $2,063 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,327 per month in Costa Mesa, CA vs $3,159 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,915 per month in Costa Mesa, CA vs $4,255 in Montreal, rent included.

Costa Mesa, CA costs about 81% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Costa Mesa, CA and Montreal sit above the global median – Costa Mesa, CA by 179%, Montreal by 54%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.31 $20.31

$15.92 CA$22.05

27.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.9 $78.9

$73.1 CA$101

8.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.14 $12.14

$11.15 CA$15.43

8.88%

Cappuccino

$5.07 $5.07

$3.80 CA$5.26

33.42%

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

$3.26 $3.26

$2.18 CA$3.01

49.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$1.46 CA$2.02

55.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.08 $7.08

$6.12 CA$8.48

15.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.22 $8.22

$6.78 CA$9.38

21.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$2.33 CA$3.22

-51.50%

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$3.39 CA$4.69

20.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$3.73 CA$5.16

20.38%

Eggs

$5.11 $5.11

$3.38 CA$4.68

51.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.45 $10.45

$16.25 CA$22.50

-35.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.76 $8.76

$11.54 CA$15.98

-24.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.75 $14.75

$15.24 CA$21.10

-3.22%

Apples (1kg)

$4.42 $4.42

$3.74 CA$5.18

18.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.70 CA$2.36

14.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$4.11 CA$5.68

8.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$4.35 CA$6.02

30.80%

Potato (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$2.71 CA$3.75

64.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.62 CA$3.62

11.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.25 CA$3.12

-5.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.73 CA$2.39

21.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.85 $10.85

$13.31 CA$18.43

-18.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.27 $15.27

$10.78 CA$14.93

41.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$3.01 CA$4.17

-36.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 $3.56

$3.46 CA$4.80

2.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.74 CA$3.79

-26.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.7 CA$101

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.73 $6.73

$3.63 CA$5.03

85.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.46 CA$2.02

91.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.28 $29.28

$33.44 CA$46.30

-12.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.21 CA$1.68

2.48%

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

$24.4K $24.4K

$24.6K CA$34.1K

-1.20%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$21.7K CA$30.0K

13.71%

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

$294 $294

$76.0 CA$105

286.60%

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

$52.4 $52.4

$35.72 CA$49.46

46.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.5 $59.5

$42.86 CA$59.4

38.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.72 $39.72

$42.92 CA$59.4

-7.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.23 CA$23.86

Cinema Ticket

$14.95 $14.95

$11.09 CA$15.35

34.81%

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

$1,204 $1,204

$620 CA$858

94.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$5,834 CA$8,078

298.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 $55.4

$62.7 CA$86.8

-11.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.50 $34.50

$44.41 CA$61.5

-22.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.2 $88.2

$101 CA$139

-12.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$119 CA$165

-14.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,775 $2,775

$1,211 CA$1,677

129.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,513 $2,513

$960 CA$1,329

161.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,931 $3,931

$2,035 CA$2,818

93.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,915 $3,915

$1,589 CA$2,201

146.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,181 CA$7,173

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,934 CA$5,446

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,090 $6,090

$2,960 CA$4,098

105.73%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,775 in Costa Mesa, CA versus $1,211 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 106% 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 $79.0 in Costa Mesa, CA versus $73.0 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story – $390 in Costa Mesa, CA vs $392 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 81% more than Montreal, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,608 per month in Costa Mesa, CA and $3,094 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 $3,738 in Costa Mesa, CA and $2,063 in Montreal. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,204 per month in Costa Mesa, CA and $620 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 $2,063, than in Costa Mesa, CA at $3,738. 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 $2,063 versus $3,738 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.