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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,072 per month in Pasadena, CA vs $2,899 in Dallas, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,717 per month in Pasadena, CA vs $4,404 in Dallas, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,362 per month in Pasadena, CA vs $5,910 in Dallas, TX, rent included.

Pasadena, CA costs about 40% more than Dallas, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Pasadena, CA and Dallas, TX sit above the global median – Pasadena, CA by 204%, Dallas, TX by 116%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.99 $17.99

$19.80 $19.80

-9.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.2 $79.2

$79.8 $79.8

-0.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.34 $11.34

$11.99 $11.99

-5.42%

Cappuccino

$5.01 $5.01

$5.54 $5.54

-9.57%

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

$3.16 $3.16

$2.63 $2.63

20.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.19 $2.19

27.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.89 $9.89

$6.44 $6.44

53.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.12 $11.12

$7.15 $7.15

55.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$0.99 $0.99

22.22%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$3.74 $3.74

33.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$4.78 $4.78

-41.63%

Eggs

$5.62 $5.62

$4.13 $4.13

36.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.22 $16.22

$13.29 $13.29

22.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.03 $18.03

$14.20 $14.20

26.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.01 $13.01

$17.76 $17.76

-26.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.58 $3.58

$4.90 $4.90

-26.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.48 $1.48

15.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$4.29 $4.29

-42.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$3.93 $3.93

44.78%

Potato (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$2.26 $2.26

142.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

$3.06 $3.06

-23.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.91 $1.91

-3.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.31 $2.31

-26.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.86 $9.86

$9.81 $9.81

0.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.03 $10.03

$15.25 $15.25

-34.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.10 $2.10

-2.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$5.00 $5.00

-65.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.58 $1.58

$2.96 $2.96

-46.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.8 $51.8

$92.2 $92.2

-43.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.44 $3.44

$2.92 $2.92

17.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.72 $1.72

-4.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.07 $29.07

$23.90 $23.90

21.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.77 $0.77

62.34%

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

$29.9K $29.9K

$35.7K $35.7K

-16.27%

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

$21.6K $21.6K

$27.6K $27.6K

-21.63%

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

$267 $267

$213 $213

24.95%

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

$51.7 $51.7

$76.9 $76.9

-32.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.6 $70.6

$73.4 $73.4

-3.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.86 $34.86

$42.24 $42.24

-17.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.25 $35.25

$17.99 $17.99

95.94%

Cinema Ticket

$18.67 $18.67

$12.83 $12.83

45.52%

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

$1,277 $1,277

$1,171 $1,171

9.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K $15.1K

$27.0K $27.0K

-44.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.6 $89.6

$54.9 $54.9

63.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.88 $39.88

$51.4 $51.4

-22.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.3 $93.3

$110 $110

-15.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$127 $127

-10.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,494 $3,494

$1,692 $1,692

106.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$1,439 $1,439

87.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,317 $5,317

$3,493 $3,493

52.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,298 $4,298

$2,570 $2,570

67.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,161 $9,161

$8,903 $8,903

2.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,444 $8,444

$3,124 $3,124

170.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,288 $5,288

$4,627 $4,627

14.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.27

6.36

-1.42%

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

Last update for Pasadena, CA: June 2, 2026

Last update for Dallas, TX: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,494 in Pasadena, CA versus $1,692 in Dallas, TX. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 14% higher in Pasadena, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Pasadena, CA versus $80.0 in Dallas, TX. Groceries tell a different story – $422 in Pasadena, CA vs $417 in Dallas, TX – so Dallas, TX wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Dallas, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pasadena, CA costs about 40% more than Dallas, TX, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,108 per month in Pasadena, CA and $4,348 in Dallas, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dallas, TX, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,277 per month in Pasadena, CA and $1,171 in Dallas, TX. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Pasadena, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,072 in Pasadena, CA and $2,899 in Dallas, TX. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dallas, TX costs $2,899 versus $4,072 in Pasadena, CA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Dallas, TX. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pasadena, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.