What is the cost of living in Altadena, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Altadena has an overall cost of living index of 191, which is 1.9x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Altadena has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Altadena ranks as #498 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Altadena ranks as the #136 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Altadena, check out:
Altadena Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Altadena. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Altadena is 106.
The Groceries index in Altadena is 113.
The Health index in Altadena is 363.
The Housing index in Altadena is 117.
The Transportation index in Altadena is 114.
The Utilities index in Altadena is 120.
| Living Expense | Altadena | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 191 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 363 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 117 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 114 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 120 | 121 | 100 |
Altadena Cost Of Living Compared To California Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Altadena Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Altadena, CA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in California, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Altadena is $1,117,759.
The Median Rent in Altadena is $2,355.
The Median Income in Altadena is $128,720.
The Home Value To Income in Altadena is 8.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Altadena is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Altadena | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,117,759 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,355 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $128,720 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.7x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Altadena, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Altadena Services costs vs. California
| Item | Altadena | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.41 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.46 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.07 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.67 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $49.33 | $45.56 |
Detailed Altadena Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Altadena | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.26 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.08 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.76 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.94 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $16.13 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.6 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.76 | $3.7 |
Detailed Altadena Health costs vs. California
| Item | Altadena | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.09 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $119.86 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.07 | $113.29 |
Detailed Altadena Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Altadena | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.47 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Altadena Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Altadena | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $326.49 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.78 | $192.25 |
Altadena SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Altadena
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Altadena. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Glendale, CA has a cost of living index of 195, 1.0x Altadena.
Pasadena, CA has a cost of living index of 198, 1.0x Altadena.
Walnut, CA has a cost of living index of 199, 1.0x Altadena.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Altadena |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glendale, CA | 190,748 | 195 | 1.0x |
| Pasadena, CA | 136,969 | 198 | 1.0x |
| Walnut, CA | 27,611 | 199 | 1.0x |
| South Pasadena, CA | 26,068 | 229 | 1.2x |
| San Fernando, CA | 23,632 | 151 | 0.8x |
| East San Gabriel, CA | 23,410 | 187 | 1.0x |
| West Puente Valley, CA | 22,495 | 148 | 0.8x |
| Valinda, CA | 20,962 | 150 | 0.8x |
| La Crescenta-Montrose, CA | 19,660 | 200 | 1.0x |
| Vincent, CA | 15,340 | 149 | 0.8x |
