CostIndexUSA

Pasadena, CA vs San Antonio, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Pasadena
113.6
overall index
$2,550/mo rent
More AffordableTX
San Antonio
94.7
overall index
$1,375/mo rent

San Antonio is significantly cheaper than Pasadena — 16.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Pasadena, you would need $66,700 in San Antonio. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing44.5%
Pasadena
170.4
San Antonio
94.6
🛒 Groceries12.0%
Pasadena
106.6
San Antonio
93.8
🚗 Transportation7.8%
Pasadena
109.6
San Antonio
101.1
🏥 Healthcare7.8%
Pasadena
99.1
San Antonio
91.4
Utilities48.2%
Pasadena
158.6
San Antonio
82.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in San Antonio, TX
$66,700
$13,300 less needed in San Antonio

Formula: salary × (94.7 ÷ 113.6) = salary × 0.8336. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Pasadena, CA

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

San Antonio, TX

Median Home Price
$274,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,375
Housing Index
94.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.6×

Pasadena has 44.5% lower housing costs compared to San Antonio.

Income & Job Market

Pasadena, CA

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

San Antonio, TX

Median Household Income
$73,200
Per Capita Income
$41,700
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
1,434,625
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareTourismManufacturingGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

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

Pasadena, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

San Antonio, TX
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

77% 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.