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: $4,050 in Pasadena, CA versus $3,036 in Colorado Springs, CO.

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

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

Living in Pasadena, CA is roughly 33% more expensive than Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.79 $17.79

$20.28 $20.28

-12.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.2 $81.2

$83.8 $83.8

-3.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.69 $11.69

$9.90 $9.90

18.08%

Cappuccino

$5.17 $5.17

$6.38 $6.38

-18.97%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$3.15 $3.15

-1.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.35 $2.35

22.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.80 $9.80

$6.35 $6.35

54.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.96 $10.96

$6.91 $6.91

58.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.02 $1.02

17.65%

White Bread (500g)

$4.92 $4.92

$3.58 $3.58

37.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$4.54 $4.54

-38.11%

Eggs

$5.34 $5.34

$5.60 $5.60

-4.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 $16.23

$15.72 $15.72

3.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.28 $18.28

$15.07 $15.07

21.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.32 $13.32

$18.61 $18.61

-28.43%

Apples (1kg)

$3.55 $3.55

$4.61 $4.61

-22.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.58 $1.58

3.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.50 $2.50

$3.67 $3.67

-31.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.75 $5.75

$4.64 $4.64

23.92%

Potato (1kg)

$5.63 $5.63

$2.61 $2.61

115.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.71 $2.71

-15.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.23 $2.23

-16.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 $1.66

$2.31 $2.31

-28.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.39 $9.39

$9.96 $9.96

-5.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.88 $9.88

$19.24 $19.24

-48.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.25 $2.25

-8.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 $1.67

$3.72 $3.72

-55.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.56 $1.56

$2.45 $2.45

-36.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.6 $52.6

$62.5 $62.5

-15.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.55 $3.55

$2.45 $2.45

44.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.43 $1.43

11.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.15 $29.15

$25.49 $25.49

14.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$0.81 $0.81

60.49%

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

$29.3K $29.3K

$26.5K $26.5K

10.42%

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

$22.2K $22.2K

$25.4K $25.4K

-12.52%

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

$265 $265

$194 $194

36.87%

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

$51.1 $51.1

$73.8 $73.8

-30.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.6 $72.6

$101 $101

-28.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.50 $34.50

$60.9 $60.9

-43.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.02 $35.02

$30.03 $30.03

16.62%

Cinema Ticket

$19.11 $19.11

$14.96 $14.96

27.74%

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

$1,299 $1,299

$1,509 $1,509

-13.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K $15.1K

$24.4K $24.4K

-38.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.8 $88.8

$58.8 $58.8

51.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.28 $40.28

$37.61 $37.61

7.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.6 $93.6

$89.7 $89.7

4.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$102 $102

10.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,388 $3,388

$1,739 $1,739

94.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$1,622 $1,622

65.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,475 $5,475

$2,524 $2,524

116.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,330 $4,330

$2,284 $2,284

89.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,483 $9,483

$2,563 $2,563

270.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,659 $8,659

$2,489 $2,489

247.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,256 $5,256

$4,184 $4,184

25.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.27

6.6

-5.00%

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

Last update for Pasadena, CA: April 25, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,388 in Pasadena, CA and $1,739 in Colorado Springs, CO. 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: $81 in Pasadena, CA vs $84 in Colorado Springs, CO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $422 vs $442 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

Pasadena, CA vs Colorado Springs, CO: 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.

Pasadena, CA pays 26% 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 $1,739 in Colorado Springs, CO. 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, 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 33% less than in Pasadena, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.