What is the cost of living in Pasadena, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Pasadena has an overall cost of living index of 198, which is 2.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Pasadena has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Pasadena ranks as #518 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Pasadena ranks as the #116 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Pasadena, check out:
Pasadena Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Pasadena. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Pasadena is 113.
The Groceries index in Pasadena is 118.
The Health index in Pasadena is 379.
The Housing index in Pasadena is 119.
The Transportation index in Pasadena is 125.
The Utilities index in Pasadena is 121.
| Living Expense | Pasadena | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 198 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 113 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 118 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 379 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 119 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 125 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 121 | 121 | 100 |
Pasadena 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 Pasadena Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Pasadena, 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 Pasadena is $1,209,228.
The Median Rent in Pasadena is $2,265.
The Median Income in Pasadena is $105,192.
The Home Value To Income in Pasadena is 11.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Pasadena is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Pasadena | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,209,228 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,265 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $105,192 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 11.5x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Pasadena, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Pasadena Services costs vs. California
| Item | Pasadena | 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 Pasadena Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Pasadena | 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 Pasadena Health costs vs. California
| Item | Pasadena | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.09 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $119.86 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.07 | $113.29 |
Detailed Pasadena Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Pasadena | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.47 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Pasadena Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Pasadena | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $326.49 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.78 | $192.25 |
Pasadena SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Pasadena
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Pasadena. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Alhambra, CA has a cost of living index of 170, 0.9x Pasadena.
La Mirada, CA has a cost of living index of 167, 0.8x Pasadena.
Altadena, CA has a cost of living index of 191, 1.0x Pasadena.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Pasadena |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alhambra, CA | 81,022 | 170 | 0.9x |
| La Mirada, CA | 47,180 | 167 | 0.8x |
| Altadena, CA | 41,705 | 191 | 1.0x |
| San Gabriel, CA | 38,392 | 175 | 0.9x |
| 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 | 0.9x |
| West Puente Valley, CA | 22,495 | 148 | 0.7x |
| Valinda, CA | 20,962 | 150 | 0.8x |
