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 229, 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 142.
The standard of living in South Pasadena ranks as #571 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies South Pasadena ranks as the #63 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in South Pasadena, check out:
South Pasadena Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in South Pasadena. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in South Pasadena is 108.
The Groceries index in South Pasadena is 122.
The Health index in South Pasadena is 489.
The Housing index in South Pasadena is 117.
The Transportation index in South Pasadena is 116.
The Utilities index in South Pasadena is 119.
| Living Expense | South Pasadena | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 229 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 122 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 489 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 117 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 116 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 119 | 121 | 100 |
South 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 South Pasadena Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in South Pasadena is $1,692,677.
The Median Rent in South Pasadena is $2,284.
The Median Income in South Pasadena is $127,175.
The Home Value To Income in South Pasadena is 13.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in South Pasadena is 0.22x.
| Statistic | South Pasadena | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,692,677 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,284 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $127,175 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 13.3x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
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 |
| 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
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 198, 0.9x South Pasadena.
East Los Angeles, CA has a cost of living index of 146, 0.6x South Pasadena.
Alhambra, CA has a cost of living index of 170, 0.7x South Pasadena.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. South Pasadena |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pasadena, CA | 136,969 | 198 | 0.9x |
| East Los Angeles, CA | 111,647 | 146 | 0.6x |
| Alhambra, CA | 81,022 | 170 | 0.7x |
| Lakewood, CA | 79,850 | 166 | 0.7x |
| Monterey Park, CA | 59,132 | 171 | 0.7x |
| Rosemead, CA | 50,013 | 162 | 0.7x |
| La Mirada, CA | 47,180 | 167 | 0.7x |
| San Gabriel, CA | 38,392 | 175 | 0.8x |
| Walnut, CA | 27,611 | 199 | 0.9x |
| East San Gabriel, CA | 23,410 | 187 | 0.8x |
