Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pomona, CA and Montreal

For one person, living is cheaper in Montreal: $2,018 a month against $2,738 in Pomona, CA, rent and utilities included – about $8,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Pomona, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,738
/mo nomad
Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,018
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Pomona, CA and in Montreal

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Pomona, CA and in Montreal actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,738 per month in Pomona, CA vs $2,018 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Pomona, CA $2,738
  • Montreal $2,018

A couple spends around $4,227 per month in Pomona, CA vs $3,085 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Pomona, CA $4,227
  • Montreal $3,085

A family of three spends $5,717 per month in Pomona, CA vs $4,152 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Pomona, CA $5,717
  • Montreal $4,152

Pomona, CA costs about 36% more than Montreal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Pomona, CA and Montreal sit above the global median – Pomona, CA by 103%, Montreal by 49%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pomona, CA
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.14 $27.14
$18.82 CA$26.61
44.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.5 $74.5
$70.3 CA$99.4
6.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.91 $9.91
$10.66 CA$15.06
-7.04%
Cappuccino
$5.57 $5.57
$3.84 CA$5.43
45.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.92 CA$2.71
-10.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 $1.22
$1.54 CA$2.18
-20.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.07 $5.07
$6.23 CA$8.81
-18.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71 $5.71
$7.10 CA$10.03
-19.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pomona, CA
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$2.31 CA$3.27
-41.99%
White Bread (500g)
$3.99 $3.99
$3.14 CA$4.44
27.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.87 $2.87
$3.21 CA$4.54
-10.59%
Eggs
$3.08 $3.08
$3.52 CA$4.97
-12.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.92 $13.92
$12.81 CA$18.11
8.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.26 $13.26
$11.46 CA$16.20
15.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.37 $12.37
$13.39 CA$18.92
-7.62%
Apples (1kg)
$3.40 $3.40
$3.14 CA$4.43
8.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.44 CA$2.03
-6.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 $2.25
$3.47 CA$4.91
-35.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 $2.13
$3.07 CA$4.34
-30.62%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.90 CA$2.69
-6.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.77 CA$2.50
-2.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 $1.17
$2.34 CA$3.31
-50.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.55 CA$2.19
9.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.11 $11.11
$11.38 CA$16.09
-2.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.42 $13.42
$10.63 CA$15.03
26.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 $1.60
$2.27 CA$3.21
-29.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 $2.69
$2.82 CA$3.99
-4.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Pomona, CA
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 $2.33
$2.66 CA$3.76
-12.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.89 $18.89
$77.3 CA$109
-75.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.40 $3.40
$3.20 CA$4.53
6.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.48 CA$2.09
24.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.63 $23.63
$32.88 CA$46.48
-28.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.34 CA$1.90
2.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K $29.8K
$28.2K CA$39.8K
5.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$19.6K CA$27.8K
29.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pomona, CA
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$243 $243
$76.0 CA$107
219.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.8 $59.8
$33.95 CA$48.00
76.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.83 $48.83
$42.31 CA$59.8
15.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pomona, CA
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.04 $20.04
$29.76 CA$42.07
-32.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.69 $40.69
$20.28 CA$28.67
100.64%
Cinema Ticket
$11.91 $11.91
$11.15 CA$15.77
6.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pomona, CA
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$544 $544
$507 CA$717
7.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,403 $8,403
$16.1K CA$22.7K
-47.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pomona, CA
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.96 $30.96
$57.6 CA$81.4
-46.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.25 $34.25
$37.58 CA$53.1
-8.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.8 $71.8
$91.9 CA$130
-21.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.9 $90.9
$110 CA$155
-17.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pomona, CA
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,925 $1,925
$1,260 CA$1,782
52.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,496 $1,496
$948 CA$1,340
57.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,439 $3,439
$2,137 CA$3,021
60.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,959 $2,959
$1,614 CA$2,281
83.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$19.1K $19.1K
$4,960 CA$7,011
284.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,544 $4,544
$3,838 CA$5,425
18.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pomona, CA
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,693 $3,693
$2,827 CA$3,997
30.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.5
4.48
45.09%

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

Last update for Pomona, CA: October 13, 2026

Last update for Montreal: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Pomona, CA
$1.5K
Montreal
$948 36.6% $548
Eating Out
Pomona, CA
$362
Montreal
$288 20.5% $74
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pomona, CA
$351
Montreal
$152 56.7% $199
Groceries & Markets
Pomona, CA
$341
Montreal
$346 1.6% $5.4
Clothing & Footwear
Pomona, CA
$103
Montreal
$133 30.2% $31
Sport & Entertainment
Pomona, CA
$44
Montreal
$52 18.7% $8.2
Getting Around
Pomona, CA
$41
Montreal
$99 141% $58

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,925 in Pomona, CA versus $1,260 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 31% higher in Pomona, 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 $75.0 in Pomona, CA versus $70.0 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story – $341 in Pomona, CA vs $346 in Montreal – so Pomona, CA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Pomona, CA
🇨🇦 Montreal
🕒 Local time
12:28 12:28 PM
15:28 3:28 PM
3 h ahead of Pomona, CA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
154,271
1,762,949
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.889 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Pomona, CA Montreal 3,930 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Pomona, CA
  • Montreal

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Pomona, CA vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Pomona, CA or Montreal?
Pomona, CA costs about 36% more than Montreal, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Pomona, CA and in Montreal?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,106 per month in Pomona, CA and $3,027 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Pomona, CA or Montreal?
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.
Are groceries more expensive in Pomona, CA or in Montreal?
Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Pomona, CA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
How do dining costs compare in Pomona, CA and in Montreal?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Pomona, CA and $70.0 in Montreal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Pomona, CA or in Montreal?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,018, than in Pomona, CA at $2,738. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pomona, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Pomona, CA or Montreal?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,018 versus $2,738 in Pomona, CA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Pomona, CA compared to Montreal?
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.
Should I move to Pomona, CA or to Montreal?
If budget matters most, go with Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pomona, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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