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

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

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

Montreal is about 45% cheaper than Costa Mesa, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.92 CA$22.05

$20.31 $20.31

-21.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.1 CA$101

$78.9 $78.9

-7.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.15 CA$15.43

$12.14 $12.14

-8.15%

Cappuccino

$3.80 CA$5.26

$5.07 $5.07

-25.05%

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

$2.18 CA$3.01

$3.26 $3.26

-33.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$2.27 $2.27

-35.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 CA$8.48

$7.08 $7.08

-13.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.78 CA$9.38

$8.22 $8.22

-17.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 CA$3.22

$1.13 $1.13

106.19%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 CA$4.69

$4.08 $4.08

-16.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.16

$4.49 $4.49

-16.93%

Eggs

$3.38 CA$4.68

$5.11 $5.11

-33.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.25 CA$22.50

$10.45 $10.45

55.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.54 CA$15.98

$8.76 $8.76

31.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.24 CA$21.10

$14.75 $14.75

3.32%

Apples (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.18

$4.42 $4.42

-15.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.36

$1.94 $1.94

-12.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.68

$4.45 $4.45

-7.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 CA$6.02

$5.69 $5.69

-23.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 CA$3.75

$4.47 $4.47

-39.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.62

$2.93 $2.93

-10.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 CA$3.12

$2.12 $2.12

6.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 CA$2.39

$2.10 $2.10

-17.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.31 CA$18.43

$10.85 $10.85

22.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.78 CA$14.93

$15.27 $15.27

-29.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.17

$1.92 $1.92

56.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 CA$4.80

$3.56 $3.56

-2.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.79

$2.02 $2.02

35.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.7 CA$101

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 CA$5.03

$6.73 $6.73

-46.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$2.79 $2.79

-47.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.44 CA$46.30

$29.28 $29.28

14.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 CA$1.68

$1.24 $1.24

-2.42%

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

$24.6K CA$34.1K

$24.4K $24.4K

1.21%

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

$21.7K CA$30.0K

$24.7K $24.7K

-12.05%

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

$76.0 CA$105

$294 $294

-74.13%

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

$35.72 CA$49.46

$52.4 $52.4

-31.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.86 CA$59.4

$59.5 $59.5

-27.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.92 CA$59.4

$39.72 $39.72

8.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.23 CA$23.86

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.35

$14.95 $14.95

-25.82%

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

$620 CA$858

$1,204 $1,204

-48.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,834 CA$8,078

$23.3K $23.3K

-74.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 CA$86.8

$55.4 $55.4

13.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 CA$61.5

$34.50 $34.50

28.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 CA$139

$88.2 $88.2

14.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 CA$165

$102 $102

16.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 CA$1,677

$2,775 $2,775

-56.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$960 CA$1,329

$2,513 $2,513

-61.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,035 CA$2,818

$3,931 $3,931

-48.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,589 CA$2,201

$3,915 $3,915

-59.40%

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)

$2,960 CA$4,098

$6,090 $6,090

-51.39%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Costa Mesa, CA: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,211 in Montreal versus $2,775 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 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 $73.0 in Montreal versus $79.0 in Costa Mesa, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $392 in Montreal vs $390 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 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 $3,094 per month in Montreal and $5,608 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 $2,063 in Montreal and $3,738 in Costa Mesa, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $620 per month in Montreal and $1,204 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 $2,063, 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.