| Index | Pasadena | Maryland | National |
| Cost of living | 129 | 121 | 100 |
| Groceries | 104 | 105 | 100 |
| Health care | 108 | 109 | 100 |
| Housing | 183 | 151 | 100 |
| Transportation | 107 | 109 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 108 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 106 | 109 | 100 |
| Household Items | 104 | 105 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 109 | 112 | 100 |
Getting a feel for the cost of living in Pasadena is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Pasadena is 129, which is 29% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.
If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, Pasadena may not be the most suitable option, as it stands out as one of the priciest areas in the entire United States. Only a small fraction of regions have a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Pasadena falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.
Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Pasadena, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 82.8% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.
Wondering if Pasadena is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Pasadena, for example, the median home price is 79.6% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 90.2% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Pasadena boasting a median household income of $147,347, which is 81.2% higher than the national average.
Taxes: Cities that enforce higher taxes, covering both sales taxes and income taxes, can be a factor contributing to a higher cost of living. Paying more in taxes for everyday essentials like clothing and food inevitably leads to higher expenses. A higher income tax rate can further contribute to an overall elevated cost of living. In Pasadena, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 6%, and income tax rates start at 2%.
Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Pasadena, the groceries index is 3.7% higher than the national average.
Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Pasadena, healthcare costs are 7.5% higher than the national average.
The Pasadena cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $155,846 | $12,987 | $3,636 | $4,676 |
| Renters | $130,540 | $10,878 | $3,046 | $3,917 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Maryland | 6% | 6% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Maryland | 2% | 5.75% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Dundalk, MD | 65,241 | 106 | 5.9% |
| Lansdowne, MD | 8,964 | 104 | 4.0% |
| Baltimore, MD | 621,744 | 108 | 7.9% |
| Essex, MD | 40,724 | 108 | 7.7% |
| Woodlawn CDP (Prince George's County), MD | 8,071 | 110 | 9.6% |
| Pasadena, MD | 30,445 | 129 | 29.0% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Sanford, NC | 30,447 | 93 | 7.4% |
| Canton, GA | 30,425 | 109 | 9.0% |
| Cochrane, AB | 30,481 | n/a | |
| Alma, QC | 30,501 | n/a | |
| Chamblee, GA | 30,502 | 118 | 18.1% |
| Pasadena, MD | 30,445 | 129 | 29.0% |
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