Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pasadena, CA and Spokane, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Spokane, WA: $2,601 a month against $3,590 in Pasadena, CA, rent and utilities included – about $11,900 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Pasadena, CA outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

173

Cost of Living Index in Pasadena, CA
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Pasadena, CA Living Index
124

Cost of Living Index in Spokane, WA
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Spokane, WA Living Index

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Pasadena, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,590

/mo nomad

Spokane, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,601

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Pasadena, CA and in Spokane, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Pasadena, CA and in Spokane, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,590 per month in Pasadena, CA vs $2,601 in Spokane, WA, rent included.

Pasadena, CA $3,590
Spokane, WA $2,601

A couple spends around $5,100 per month in Pasadena, CA vs $3,839 in Spokane, WA, rent included.

Pasadena, CA $5,100
Spokane, WA $3,839

A family of three spends $6,609 per month in Pasadena, CA vs $5,076 in Spokane, WA, rent included.

Pasadena, CA $6,609
Spokane, WA $5,076

Pasadena, CA costs about 38% more than Spokane, WA.

Both Pasadena, CA and Spokane, WA sit above the global median – Pasadena, CA by 164%, Spokane, WA by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.03 $18.03

$19.70 $19.70

-8.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.4 $76.4

$74.9 $74.9

1.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.91 $9.91

$12.84 $12.84

-22.82%

Cappuccino

$4.81 $4.81

$5.01 $5.01

-3.99%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$2.42 $2.42

14.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 $1.58

$2.19 $2.19

-27.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.94 $4.94

$6.85 $6.85

-27.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.87 $5.87

$6.18 $6.18

-5.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.93 $0.93

44.09%

White Bread (500g)

$3.87 $3.87

$3.27 $3.27

18.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$4.68 $4.68

-39.96%

Eggs

$5.20 $5.20

$5.79 $5.79

-10.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.81 $13.81

$15.79 $15.79

-12.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.48 $13.48

$13.56 $13.56

-0.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.44 $12.44

$16.66 $16.66

-25.33%

Apples (1kg)

$4.72 $4.72

$6.32 $6.32

-25.32%

Banana (1kg)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.70 $1.70

32.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$5.44 $5.44

-19.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.01 $6.01

$5.62 $5.62

6.94%

Potato (1kg)

$4.50 $4.50

$3.13 $3.13

43.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.40 $2.40

$3.08 $3.08

-22.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.86 $1.86

$2.06 $2.06

-9.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.84 $1.84

16.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.92 $11.92

$12.07 $12.07

-1.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.89 $10.89

$14.24 $14.24

-23.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.85 $1.85

-10.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 $1.81

$4.81 $4.81

-62.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.95 $1.95

-11.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.0 $51.0

$60.7 $60.7

-16.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 $3.41

$5.11 $5.11

-33.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.71 $1.71

10.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.30 $24.30

$39.78 $39.78

-38.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.36 $1.36

16.91%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$27.8K $27.8K

-0.38%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$27.1K $27.1K

-5.05%

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

$249 $249

$174 $174

42.99%

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

$59.5 $59.5

$75.8 $75.8

-21.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.9 $65.9

$73.9 $73.9

-10.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.12 $25.12

$44.38 $44.38

-43.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.52 $34.52

$14.84 $14.84

132.61%

Cinema Ticket

$12.12 $12.12

$16.13 $16.13

-24.86%

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

$3,909 $3,909

$1,403 $1,403

178.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K $14.7K

$21.4K $21.4K

-30.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.13 $31.13

$52.4 $52.4

-40.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.65 $34.65

$49.55 $49.55

-30.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.8 $70.8

$116 $116

-38.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$144 $144

-2.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,070 $3,070

$1,625 $1,625

88.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,285 $2,285

$1,200 $1,200

90.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,691 $4,691

$3,093 $3,093

51.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,729 $3,729

$1,950 $1,950

91.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,964 $8,964

$3,290 $3,290

172.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,058 $9,058

$2,276 $2,276

298.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,466 $5,466

$4,440 $4,440

23.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.33

6.76

-6.36%

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

Last update for Pasadena, CA: October 24, 2026

Last update for Spokane, WA: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Pasadena, CA

$2.3K 63.6%

Spokane, WA

$1.2K 46.1% 47.5% $1.1K

Groceries & Markets

Pasadena, CA

$400 11.2%

Spokane, WA

$434 16.7% 8.5% $34

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Pasadena, CA

$375 10.4%

Spokane, WA

$324 12.5% 13.5% $51

Eating Out

Pasadena, CA

$286 8%

Spokane, WA

$321 12.4% 12.5% $36

Clothing & Footwear

Pasadena, CA

$125 3.5%

Spokane, WA

$163 6.3% 30.4% $38

Getting Around

Pasadena, CA

$71 2%

Spokane, WA

$82 3.2% 16.2% $11

Sport & Entertainment

Pasadena, CA

$49 1.4%

Spokane, WA

$77 3% 55.3% $27

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,070 in Pasadena, CA versus $1,625 in Spokane, WA. 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 23% 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 $76 in Pasadena, CA versus $75 in Spokane, WA. Groceries tell a different story – $400 in Pasadena, CA vs $434 in Spokane, WA – so Pasadena, CA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Pasadena, CA

🇺🇸 Spokane, WA

🕒 Local time

06:43 6:43 AM

Same time as Pasadena, CA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

137,122

228,989

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.899 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Pasadena, CA Spokane, WA 1,500 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Pasadena, CA
Spokane, WA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Spokane, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,385 per month in Pasadena, CA and $3,901 in Spokane, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Spokane, WA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,625 there versus $3,070 in Pasadena, CA.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,590 in Pasadena, CA and $2,601 in Spokane, WA. That’s a gap of about 38%.

Kindergarten costs $3,909 per month in Pasadena, CA and $1,403 in Spokane, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Spokane, WA, where all-in costs run around $2,601, than in Pasadena, CA at $3,590. In Spokane, WA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pasadena, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Spokane, WA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Spokane, WA. 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.