South Pasadena, CA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-23

Cost Of Living In South Pasadena, CA Summary

Cost of living in South Pasadena research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means South Pasadena is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in California, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in South Pasadena is 226, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in South Pasadena is 2.3x higher than the national average.

  • South Pasadena ranks as the #569 cheapest in California out of 634.

  • South Pasadena ranks as the #6,396 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in South Pasadena is $1,617,943.

  • The median income in South Pasadena is $128,105.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
226
South Pasadena's Overall Cost Of Living
2.3x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in South Pasadena, CA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, South Pasadena has an overall cost of living index of 226, which is 2.3x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to California, South Pasadena has a cost of living index that's 1.6x higher than California's index of 141.

The standard of living in South Pasadena ranks as #569 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies South Pasadena ranks as the #65 most expensive place in the Golden State.

For more reading on life in South Pasadena, check out:

569 out of 634
In California
6,396 out of 6,489
In America

South Pasadena Cost Of Living Vs. California

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in South Pasadena. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in South Pasadena is 117.

  • The Groceries index in South Pasadena is 114.

  • The Health index in South Pasadena is 110.

  • The Housing index in South Pasadena is 481.

  • The Transportation index in South Pasadena is 124.

  • The Utilities index in South Pasadena is 110.

Living Expense South Pasadena California National Average
Overall 226 141 100
Services 117 111 100
Groceries 114 111 100
Health 110 107 100
Housing 481 194 100
Transportation 124 125 100
Utilities 110 128 100
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
South Pasadena Cost of Living Vs. CA

South 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in South Pasadena is $1,617,943.

  • The Median Rent in South Pasadena is $2,218.

  • The Median Income in South Pasadena is $128,105.

  • The Home Value To Income in South Pasadena is 12.6x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in South Pasadena is 0.21x.

Statistic South Pasadena California United States
Median Home Value $1,617,943 $763,287 $303,400
Median Rent $2,218 $1,956 $1,348
Median Income $128,105 $96,334 $78,538
Home Value To Income 12.6x 7.9x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.21x 0.24x 0.21x
$1,617,943
Median Home Value
$2,218
Median Rent
$128,105
Median Income

South Pasadena, CA Costs By Category

Detailed South Pasadena Services Costs Vs. California

Item South Pasadena California
Shampoo $1.41 $1.28
Movie $13.46 $12.13
Bowling $19.07 $18.0
Haircut $24.67 $24.26
Beauty Salon $49.33 $45.56

Detailed South Pasadena Groceries Costs Vs. California

Item South 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 South Pasadena Health Costs Vs. California

Item South Pasadena California
Optometrist $129.09 $125.68
Doctor $119.86 $135.78
Dentist $108.07 $113.29

Detailed South Pasadena Transportation Costs Vs. California

Item South Pasadena California
Gasoline $4.47 $3.46
Tire Balancing $58.33 $59.92

Detailed South Pasadena Utilities Costs Vs. California

Item South Pasadena California
All Electricity $326.49 $193.99
Phone $182.78 $192.25

South Pasadena SnackAbility

9.5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8.5/10
Housing
10
Affordability
5
Diversity
10
Safety
7
Amenities
9.5
Education
9.5
Commute
4

Cost Of Living In Cities Around South Pasadena

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around South Pasadena. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Pasadena, CA has a cost of living index of 189, 0.8x South Pasadena.

  • East Los Angeles, CA has a cost of living index of 144, 0.6x South Pasadena.

  • Alhambra, CA has a cost of living index of 169, 0.7x South Pasadena.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. South Pasadena
Pasadena, CA 136,462 189 0.8x
East Los Angeles, CA 114,617 144 0.6x
Alhambra, CA 81,483 169 0.7x
Lakewood, CA 80,510 164 0.7x
Monterey Park, CA 59,639 169 0.7x
Rosemead, CA 50,340 158 0.7x
La Mirada, CA 46,945 163 0.7x
San Gabriel, CA 38,764 178 0.8x
Walnut, CA 27,857 194 0.9x
East San Gabriel, CA 23,521 187 0.8x

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