| Index | Pasadena | Texas | National |
| Cost of living | 94 | 94 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Health care | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Housing | 83 | 83 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 98 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 103 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Household Items | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 98 | 98 | 100 |
Understanding the cost of living in Pasadena can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Pasadena cost of living index is 94, which is 6% lower than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.
Everyday expenditures like food, housing, lifestyle expenses, transportation and health care in Pasadena are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Pasadena can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.
Is Pasadena affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Pasadena, for instance, where the median home price falls 25.6% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 1.8% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Pasadena flaunting a median household income of $85,240, 4.8% higher than the national norm.
Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In Pasadena, the utilities index registers at 2% higher than the national average.
Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Pasadena, healthcare costs are 4.5% lower than the national average.
Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.
The Pasadena cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical 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 | $115,884 | $9,657 | $2,704 | $3,477 |
| Renters | $61,309 | $5,109 | $1,430 | $1,839 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Texas | 6.25% | 8.25% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Texas | 0% | 0% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Barrett, TX | 3,521 | 87 | 13.0% |
| Jacinto City, TX | 10,826 | 87 | 13.0% |
| Galena Park, TX | 11,097 | 88 | 11.8% |
| South Houston, TX | 17,971 | 90 | 9.5% |
| Sheldon, TX | 2,224 | 92 | 8.4% |
| Pasadena, TX | 157,942 | 94 | 6.1% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Hollywood, FL | 157,605 | 118 | 18.4% |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | 158,411 | 93 | 7.2% |
| Sunnyvale, CA | 157,266 | 269 | 168.9% |
| Palmdale, CA | 158,635 | 130 | 30.2% |
| Springfield, MA | 156,858 | 110 | 10.1% |
| Pasadena, TX | 157,942 | 94 | 6.1% |
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