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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,458 in Pasadena, CA versus $2,973 in Colorado Springs, CO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,438 in Pasadena, CA versus $4,322 in Colorado Springs, CO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,418 in Pasadena, CA versus $5,672 in Colorado Springs, CO.

Living in Pasadena, CA is roughly 50% more expensive than in Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Pasadena, CA 223% above, Colorado Springs, CO 116% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.67 $17.67

$20.40 $20.40

-13.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.6 $85.6

$85.2 $85.2

0.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.85 $11.85

$12.77 $12.77

-7.20%

Cappuccino

$4.64 $4.64

$5.67 $5.67

-18.17%

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

$3.27 $3.27

$2.75 $2.75

18.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.23 $2.23

13.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.34 $9.34

$5.86 $5.86

59.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.91 $10.91

$7.26 $7.26

50.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 $1.41

$0.98 $0.98

43.88%

White Bread (500g)

$5.02 $5.02

$3.17 $3.17

58.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.11 $4.11

5.11%

Eggs

$5.19 $5.19

$6.02 $6.02

-13.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.39 $13.39

$14.84 $14.84

-9.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.76 $14.76

$13.26 $13.26

11.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.94 $21.94

$19.14 $19.14

14.63%

Apples (1kg)

$4.55 $4.55

$5.63 $5.63

-19.18%

Banana (1kg)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.37 $1.37

81.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$4.49 $4.49

2.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.97 $5.97

$4.78 $4.78

24.90%

Potato (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$2.51 $2.51

107.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.62 $2.62

-8.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.28 $2.28

-17.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.90 $1.90

15.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.73 $10.73

Wine (Bottle)

$11.12 $11.12

$19.10 $19.10

-41.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$3.34 $3.34

-35.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 $1.87

$4.58 $4.58

-59.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.72 $1.72

2.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$63.5 $63.5

57.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.75 $3.75

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.22 $25.22

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 $1.45

$0.98 $0.98

47.96%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

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

$25.5K $25.5K

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

$293 $293

$198 $198

47.46%

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

$57.9 $57.9

$96.6 $96.6

-40.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$102 $102

-26.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.24 $35.24

$57.5 $57.5

-38.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.15 $35.15

$34.09 $34.09

3.11%

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$15.21 $15.21

18.47%

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

$3,901 $3,901

$1,473 $1,473

164.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K $14.7K

$24.9K $24.9K

-40.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$58.5 $58.5

12.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.48 $35.48

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.0 $79.0

$81.0 $81.0

-2.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$254 $254

$102 $102

149.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,160 $3,160

$1,712 $1,712

84.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,856 $2,856

$1,559 $1,559

83.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,722 $5,722

$2,648 $2,648

116.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,849 $4,849

$2,369 $2,369

104.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,006 $9,006

$2,605 $2,605

245.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,754 $8,754

$2,484 $2,484

252.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,298 $5,298

$4,183 $4,183

26.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.05

6.14

-1.47%

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

Last update for Pasadena, CA: September 6, 2026

Last update for Colorado Springs, CO: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,160 in Pasadena, CA and $1,712 in Colorado Springs, CO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pasadena, CA pays 27% 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: $86.0 in Pasadena, CA vs $85.0 in Colorado Springs, CO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $459 vs $437 per month, with Colorado Springs, CO 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 Colorado Springs, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Colorado Springs, CO is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 50% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 27% higher in Pasadena, CA, 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: $3,160 in Pasadena, CA versus $1,712 in Colorado Springs, CO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Pasadena, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Colorado Springs, CO – a meal for two runs $85.0 versus $86.0 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, Pasadena, CA and Colorado Springs, CO 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 50% less than in Pasadena, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.