Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Pasadena, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Pasadena, CA

😐 Solo nomad: New York, NY is 18.9% more expensive than Pasadena, CA without rent, and 6.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: New York, NY is 33.9% more expensive than Pasadena, CA without rent, and 26.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Pasadena, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.68 $29.68
$17.96 $17.96
65.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144 $144
$81.3 $81.3
77.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.43 $12.43
$11.4 $11.4
9.04%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$5.16 $5.16
13.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$3.08 $3.08
5.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.9 $2.9
-11.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.24 $8.24
$9.89 $9.89
-16.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.86 $11.86
$10.89 $10.89
8.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Pasadena, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.27 $1.27
22.83%
White Bread (500g)
$5.23 $5.23
$4.9 $4.9
6.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.11 $8.11
$2.95 $2.95
174.92%
Eggs
$7.25 $7.25
$5.47 $5.47
32.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.08 $17.08
$15.71 $15.71
8.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.24 $16.24
$18.68 $18.68
-13.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.02 $20.02
$13.27 $13.27
50.87%
Apples (1kg)
$7.49 $7.49
$3.54 $3.54
111.58%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.7 $1.7
50.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.82 $5.82
$2.37 $2.37
145.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.52 $6.52
$5.9 $5.9
10.51%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$5.41 $5.41
-31.24%
Onion (1kg)
$3.9 $3.9
$2.41 $2.41
61.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.07 $3.07
$1.86 $1.86
65.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.71 $1.71
50.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.21 $19.21
$9.41 $9.41
104.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.79 $17.79
$15.09 $15.09
17.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$1.96 $1.96
53.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$1.67 $1.67
122.75%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Pasadena, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 $2.92
$1.59 $1.59
83.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$134 $134
$51.6 $51.6
159.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.13 $5.13
$3.49 $3.49
46.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.64 $1.64
31.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.57 $41.57
$29.48 $29.48
41.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.28 $1.28
-25.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35K $35K
$29.6K $29.6K
18.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$22.2K $22.2K
24.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Pasadena, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 $179
$259 $259
-31.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60 $60
$50.1 $50.1
19.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8 $63.8
$71.9 $71.9
-11.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Pasadena, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$141 $141
$34.34 $34.34
309.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$63.9 $63.9
$35.31 $35.31
80.97%
Cinema Ticket
$19.9 $19.9
$18.8 $18.8
5.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Pasadena, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,206 $3,206
$3,892 $3,892
-17.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$56.5K $56.5K
$15.1K $15.1K
273.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Pasadena, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.7 $65.7
$91.8 $91.8
-28.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.75 $48.75
$40.28 $40.28
21.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$92.3 $92.3
20.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172 $172
$221 $221
-22.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Pasadena, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,165 $4,165
$3,377 $3,377
23.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,653 $2,653
$2,719 $2,719
-2.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,412 $8,412
$5,360 $5,360
56.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,277 $5,277
$4,324 $4,324
22.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$15.6K $15.6K
$9,222 $9,222
69.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.2K $11.2K
$8,586 $8,586
29.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Pasadena, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,616 $5,616
$5,622 $5,622
-0.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
6.27
2.71%

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

Last update for New York, NY: October 28, 2025

Last update for Pasadena, CA: October 27, 2025

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