Costa Mesa, CA vs Montclair, CA

The cost of living difference between Costa Mesa, CA and Montclair, CA is dramatic. Montclair is 46.5% cheaper than Costa Mesa, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Costa Mesa has a cost index of 199 while Montclair sits at 136, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Costa Mesa is $2,395/month compared to $1,759/month in Montclair — a 36% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Montclair is more affordable at $549,600 median vs $1,054,700.

Median household income in Costa Mesa is $110,073 compared to $76,338 in Montclair (+44.2%). The higher salaries in Costa Mesa partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Costa Mesa spend roughly 26.1% of their income on rent, less than the 27.7% in Montclair.