Cost of Living Comparison Between Colorado Springs, CO and Pasadena, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Colorado Springs, CO and Pasadena, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,036 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $4,050 in Pasadena, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,229 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $5,773 in Pasadena, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,421 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $7,497 in Pasadena, CA.

Living in Colorado Springs, CO costs roughly 25% less than in Pasadena, CA, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Colorado Springs, CO 127% above, Pasadena, CA 202% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.28 $20.28

$17.79 $17.79

14.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.8 $83.8

$81.2 $81.2

3.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.90 $9.90

$11.69 $11.69

-15.31%

Cappuccino

$6.38 $6.38

$5.17 $5.17

23.40%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.11 $3.11

1.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.89 $2.89

-18.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.35 $6.35

$9.80 $9.80

-35.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.91 $6.91

$10.96 $10.96

-36.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.20 $1.20

-15.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.58 $3.58

$4.92 $4.92

-27.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

$2.81 $2.81

61.57%

Eggs

$5.60 $5.60

$5.34 $5.34

4.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.72 $15.72

$16.23 $16.23

-3.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.07 $15.07

$18.28 $18.28

-17.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.61 $18.61

$13.32 $13.32

39.71%

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$3.55 $3.55

29.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.63 $1.63

-3.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.67 $3.67

$2.50 $2.50

46.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.64 $4.64

$5.75 $5.75

-19.30%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 $2.61

$5.63 $5.63

-53.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.28 $2.28

18.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.87 $1.87

19.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$1.66 $1.66

39.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.96 $9.96

$9.39 $9.39

6.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.24 $19.24

$9.88 $9.88

94.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.05 $2.05

9.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 $3.72

$1.67 $1.67

122.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.56 $1.56

57.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.5 $62.5

$52.6 $52.6

18.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 $2.45

$3.55 $3.55

-30.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.60 $1.60

-10.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.49 $25.49

$29.15 $29.15

-12.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.30 $1.30

-37.69%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.5K $26.5K

$29.3K $29.3K

-9.44%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.4K $25.4K

$22.2K $22.2K

14.32%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$194 $194

$265 $265

-26.94%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$73.8 $73.8

$51.1 $51.1

44.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$101 $101

$72.6 $72.6

39.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.9 $60.9

$34.50 $34.50

76.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.03 $30.03

$35.02 $35.02

-14.25%

Cinema Ticket

$14.96 $14.96

$19.11 $19.11

-21.72%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,509 $1,509

$1,299 $1,299

16.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.4K $24.4K

$15.1K $15.1K

61.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 $58.8

$88.8 $88.8

-33.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.61 $37.61

$40.28 $40.28

-6.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$93.6 $93.6

-4.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$112 $112

-9.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,739 $1,739

$3,388 $3,388

-48.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,622 $1,622

$2,693 $2,693

-39.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,524 $2,524

$5,475 $5,475

-53.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,284 $2,284

$4,330 $4,330

-47.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,563 $2,563

$9,483 $9,483

-72.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,489 $2,489

$8,659 $8,659

-71.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,184 $4,184

$5,256 $5,256

-20.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.27

5.26%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Colorado Springs, CO: April 28, 2026

Last update for Pasadena, CA: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,739 in Colorado Springs, CO and $3,388 in Pasadena, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pasadena, CA pays 26% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $84 in Colorado Springs, CO vs $81 in Pasadena, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $442 vs $422 per month, with Pasadena, CA cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Colorado Springs, CO vs Pasadena, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Colorado Springs, CO is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Pasadena, CA earns 26% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,739 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $3,388 in Pasadena, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Pasadena, CA pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Colorado Springs, CO – a meal for two runs $84.0 versus $81.0 in Pasadena, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Colorado Springs, CO is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Colorado Springs, CO is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Pasadena, CA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Colorado Springs, CO and Pasadena, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Colorado Springs, CO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Pasadena, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.