Cost of Living Comparison Between Pasadena, CA and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Pasadena, CA and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,050 in Pasadena, CA versus $2,657 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,773 in Pasadena, CA versus $4,101 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,497 in Pasadena, CA versus $5,546 in Austin, TX.

Living in Pasadena, CA is roughly 52% more expensive than Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Pasadena, CA 202% above, Austin, TX 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.79 $17.79

$19.85 $19.85

-10.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.2 $81.2

$74.5 $74.5

9.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.69 $11.69

$10.03 $10.03

16.55%

Cappuccino

$5.17 $5.17

$5.52 $5.52

-6.34%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.78 $2.78

11.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.10 $2.10

37.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.80 $9.80

$6.04 $6.04

62.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.96 $10.96

$7.81 $7.81

40.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.13 $1.13

6.19%

White Bread (500g)

$4.92 $4.92

$3.45 $3.45

42.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.42 $3.42

-17.84%

Eggs

$5.34 $5.34

$4.37 $4.37

22.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 $16.23

$12.24 $12.24

32.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.28 $18.28

$10.79 $10.79

69.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.32 $13.32

$14.36 $14.36

-7.24%

Apples (1kg)

$3.55 $3.55

$4.99 $4.99

-28.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.51 $1.51

7.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.50 $2.50

$4.38 $4.38

-42.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.96 $3.96

45.20%

Potato (1kg)

$5.63 $5.63

$2.74 $2.74

105.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.77 $2.77

-17.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.87 $1.87

$1.98 $1.98

-5.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 $1.66

$2.28 $2.28

-27.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.39 $9.39

$8.74 $8.74

7.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.88 $9.88

$14.81 $14.81

-33.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.26 $2.26

-9.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 $1.67

$3.58 $3.58

-53.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.54 $1.54

1.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.6 $52.6

$43.09 $43.09

21.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.55 $3.55

$4.45 $4.45

-20.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.81 $1.81

-11.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.15 $29.15

$35.30 $35.30

-17.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$0.74 $0.74

75.68%

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

$29.3K $29.3K

$25.5K $25.5K

14.97%

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

$22.2K $22.2K

$26.4K $26.4K

-16.00%

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

$265 $265

$170 $170

55.71%

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

$51.1 $51.1

$60.3 $60.3

-15.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.6 $72.6

$67.0 $67.0

8.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.50 $34.50

$61.6 $61.6

-44.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.02 $35.02

$9.83 $9.83

256.26%

Cinema Ticket

$19.11 $19.11

$15.14 $15.14

26.22%

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

$1,299 $1,299

$1,381 $1,381

-5.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K $15.1K

$21.8K $21.8K

-30.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.8 $88.8

$56.9 $56.9

55.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.28 $40.28

$45.94 $45.94

-12.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.6 $93.6

$86.0 $86.0

8.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$119 $119

-5.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,388 $3,388

$2,183 $2,183

55.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$1,417 $1,417

90.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,475 $5,475

$3,801 $3,801

44.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,330 $4,330

$2,711 $2,711

59.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,483 $9,483

$7,204 $7,204

31.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,659 $8,659

$3,239 $3,239

167.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,256 $5,256

$4,914 $4,914

6.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.27

6.45

-2.79%

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

Last update for Pasadena, CA: April 25, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,388 in Pasadena, CA and $2,183 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pasadena, CA pays 7% 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: $81 in Pasadena, CA vs $74 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $422 vs $379 per month, with Austin, TX 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

Pasadena, CA vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 52% lower than in Pasadena, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Pasadena, CA pays 7% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $3,388 in Pasadena, CA versus $2,183 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $4,050 per month in Pasadena, CA versus $2,657 in Austin, TX – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 22% less than in Pasadena, CA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Austin, TX delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,657 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Austin, TX hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Pasadena, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.