CostIndexUSA

Los Angeles, CA vs Pasadena, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostCA
Los Angeles
113.6
overall index
$2,875/mo rent
CA
Pasadena
113.6
overall index
$2,550/mo rent

Los Angeles and Pasadena have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing≈ Equal
Los Angeles
170.4
Pasadena
170.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Los Angeles
106.6
Pasadena
106.6
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Los Angeles
109.6
Pasadena
109.6
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Los Angeles
99.1
Pasadena
99.1
Utilities≈ Equal
Los Angeles
158.6
Pasadena
158.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Los Angeles to see what you'd need to earn in Pasadena to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Pasadena, CA
$80,000
Same salary works in both cities

Formula: salary × (113.6 ÷ 113.6) = salary × 1.0000. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Los Angeles, CA

Median Home Price
$944,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,875
Housing Index
170.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
27.4×

Pasadena, CA

Median Home Price
$565,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,550
Housing Index
170.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Income & Job Market

Los Angeles, CA

Median Household Income
$92,000
Per Capita Income
$52,400
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
3,979,576
Top Industries
EntertainmentTechnologyHealthcareLogisticsReal Estate

Pasadena, CA

Median Household Income
$92,000
Per Capita Income
$52,400
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
141,029
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareEntertainmentFinance

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Los Angeles, CA
2.7×income-to-rent ratio

63% of income left after rent (median)

Pasadena, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.