What is the cost of living in Pasadena, MD?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Pasadena has an overall cost of living index of 127, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Maryland, Pasadena has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Maryland's index of 121.
The standard of living in Pasadena ranks as #89 most affordable out of the 195 places we measured in Maryland. By definition, that implies Pasadena ranks as the #106 most expensive place in the Old Line State.
For more reading on life in Pasadena, check out:
Pasadena Cost Of Living Vs. Maryland
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 102.
The Groceries index in Pasadena is 106.
The Health index in Pasadena is 184.
The Housing index in Pasadena is 107.
The Transportation index in Pasadena is 107.
The Utilities index in Pasadena is 108.
| Living Expense | Pasadena | Maryland | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 127 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 106 | 107 | 100 |
| Health | 184 | 152 | 100 |
| Housing | 107 | 109 | 100 |
| Transportation | 107 | 108 | 100 |
| Utilities | 108 | 109 | 100 |
Pasadena Cost Of Living Compared To Maryland Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Maryland, 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, MD Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Maryland, 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 $454,922.
The Median Rent in Pasadena is $2,393.
The Median Income in Pasadena is $129,727.
The Home Value To Income in Pasadena is 3.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Pasadena is 0.22x.
Pasadena, MD Costs By Category
Detailed Pasadena Services costs vs. Maryland
Detailed Pasadena Groceries costs vs. Maryland
Detailed Pasadena Health costs vs. Maryland
Detailed Pasadena Transportation costs vs. Maryland
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:
Columbia, MD has a cost of living index of 138, 1.1x Pasadena.
Glen Burnie, MD has a cost of living index of 120, 0.9x Pasadena.
Bowie, MD has a cost of living index of 133, 1.0x Pasadena.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Pasadena |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, MD | 104,338 | 138 | 1.1x |
| Glen Burnie, MD | 72,590 | 120 | 0.9x |
| Bowie, MD | 57,926 | 133 | 1.0x |
| Severna Park, MD | 40,228 | 154 | 1.2x |
| Crofton, MD | 29,549 | 140 | 1.1x |
| Ilchester, MD | 28,364 | 139 | 1.1x |
| Elkridge, MD | 26,283 | 134 | 1.1x |
| North Laurel, MD | 25,563 | 137 | 1.1x |
| Lake Shore, MD | 18,249 | 136 | 1.1x |
| Ferndale, MD | 17,529 | 118 | 0.9x |








