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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Montreal is about 45% cheaper than Costa Mesa, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.52 CA$23.16

$20.24 $20.24

-18.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.0 CA$104

$79.9 $79.9

-7.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 CA$15.34

$12.10 $12.10

-9.59%

Cappuccino

$3.84 CA$5.39

$5.07 $5.07

-24.26%

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

$2.14 CA$2.99

$3.35 $3.35

-36.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 CA$2.03

$2.23 $2.23

-34.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.13 CA$8.60

$7.15 $7.15

-14.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 CA$9.44

$8.16 $8.16

-17.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.35 CA$3.30

$1.16 $1.16

102.59%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 CA$4.68

$4.06 $4.06

-17.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.25

$4.37 $4.37

-14.42%

Eggs

$3.39 CA$4.76

$4.97 $4.97

-31.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.30 CA$22.85

$10.69 $10.69

52.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.81 CA$16.56

$8.50 $8.50

38.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.64 CA$21.93

$14.79 $14.79

5.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 CA$5.18

$4.34 $4.34

-14.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.39

$1.90 $1.90

-10.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.76

$4.33 $4.33

-5.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 CA$6.18

$5.51 $5.51

-19.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 CA$3.91

$4.51 $4.51

-38.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 CA$3.70

$2.91 $2.91

-9.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 CA$3.21

$2.01 $2.01

13.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.50

$2.16 $2.16

-17.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.17 CA$18.47

$11.20 $11.20

17.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 CA$14.92

$14.92 $14.92

-28.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 CA$4.19

$1.92 $1.92

55.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 CA$4.82

$3.44 $3.44

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 CA$3.94

$1.95 $1.95

44.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.8 CA$102

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 CA$4.93

$6.45 $6.45

-45.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 CA$2.04

$2.80 $2.80

-48.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.29 CA$48.08

$29.71 $29.71

15.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.72

$1.28 $1.28

-4.69%

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

$25.3K CA$35.4K

$24.2K $24.2K

4.48%

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

$22.1K CA$31.0K

$24.3K $24.3K

-8.77%

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

$76.5 CA$107

$284 $284

-73.10%

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

$35.60 CA$49.91

$51.6 $51.6

-30.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.96 CA$60.2

$60.2 $60.2

-28.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.39 CA$60.8

$40.41 $40.41

7.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.83 CA$23.60

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.55

$15.28 $15.28

-27.42%

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

$625 CA$876

$1,196 $1,196

-47.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,896 CA$8,266

$23.4K $23.4K

-74.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.1 CA$88.5

$54.7 $54.7

15.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.50 CA$62.4

$34.74 $34.74

28.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 CA$144

$85.1 $85.1

20.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$166

$103 $103

14.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 CA$1,692

$2,781 $2,781

-56.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$965 CA$1,353

$2,465 $2,465

-60.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,031 CA$2,848

$3,948 $3,948

-48.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,577 CA$2,211

$3,867 $3,867

-59.22%

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)

$2,890 CA$4,051

$6,283 $6,283

-54.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

6.58

-23.86%

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

Last update for Montreal: July 11, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,207 in Montreal versus $2,781 in Costa Mesa, CA. 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 $74.0 in Montreal versus $80.0 in Costa Mesa, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $395 in Montreal vs $386 in Costa Mesa, CA – 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

Montreal vs Costa Mesa, CA: 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 $3,127 per month in Montreal and $5,637 in Costa Mesa, CA. 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 $2,085 in Montreal and $3,758 in Costa Mesa, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $625 per month in Montreal and $1,196 in Costa Mesa, CA. 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.