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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,458 per month in Pasadena, CA vs $2,682 in Spokane, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,438 per month in Pasadena, CA vs $3,940 in Spokane, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,418 per month in Pasadena, CA vs $5,197 in Spokane, WA, rent included.

Pasadena, CA costs about 66% more than Spokane, WA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Pasadena, CA and Spokane, WA sit above the global median – Pasadena, CA by 223%, Spokane, WA by 94%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.67 $17.67

$20.21 $20.21

-12.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.6 $85.6

$75.8 $75.8

12.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.85 $11.85

$13.04 $13.04

-9.13%

Cappuccino

$4.64 $4.64

$5.07 $5.07

-8.48%

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

$3.27 $3.27

$2.35 $2.35

39.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.24 $2.24

13.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.34 $9.34

$6.99 $6.99

33.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.91 $10.91

$5.97 $5.97

82.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 $1.41

$0.96 $0.96

46.87%

White Bread (500g)

$5.02 $5.02

$3.38 $3.38

48.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.89 $4.89

-11.66%

Eggs

$5.19 $5.19

$5.74 $5.74

-9.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.39 $13.39

$16.02 $16.02

-16.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.76 $14.76

$13.80 $13.80

6.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.94 $21.94

$17.25 $17.25

27.19%

Apples (1kg)

$4.55 $4.55

$6.17 $6.17

-26.26%

Banana (1kg)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.73 $1.73

43.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$5.59 $5.59

-17.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.97 $5.97

$5.77 $5.77

3.47%

Potato (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$3.06 $3.06

70.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.99 $2.99

-19.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.98 $1.98

-5.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.91 $1.91

14.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.23 $12.23

Wine (Bottle)

$11.12 $11.12

$14.21 $14.21

-21.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.80 $1.80

20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 $1.87

$4.83 $4.83

-61.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.97 $1.97

-10.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$53.5 $53.5

86.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.69 $1.69

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.99 $39.99

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.25 $1.25

16.00%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

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

$26.2K $26.2K

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

$293 $293

$171 $171

70.79%

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

$57.9 $57.9

$75.9 $75.9

-23.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$73.4 $73.4

2.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.24 $35.24

$57.7 $57.7

-38.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.15 $35.15

$14.75 $14.75

138.31%

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$16.06 $16.06

12.20%

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

$3,901 $3,901

$1,386 $1,386

181.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K $14.7K

$21.9K $21.9K

-32.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$52.4 $52.4

26.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.4 $50.4

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.0 $79.0

$116 $116

-31.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$254 $254

$144 $144

76.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,160 $3,160

$1,628 $1,628

94.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,856 $2,856

$1,266 $1,266

125.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,722 $5,722

$2,704 $2,704

111.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,849 $4,849

$2,133 $2,133

127.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,006 $9,006

$3,428 $3,428

162.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,754 $8,754

$2,272 $2,272

285.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,298 $5,298

$4,333 $4,333

22.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.05

6.23

-2.89%

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

Last update for Pasadena, CA: September 6, 2026

Last update for Spokane, WA: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,160 in Pasadena, CA versus $1,628 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 22% 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 $86.0 in Pasadena, CA versus $76.0 in Spokane, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $459 vs $440 – making Spokane, WA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Monthly costs with rent: $4,458 in Pasadena, CA, $2,682 in Spokane, WA – roughly 66% apart. Pasadena, CA costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,687 per month in Pasadena, CA and $4,023 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,458 in Pasadena, CA and $2,682 in Spokane, WA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 87% less in Spokane, WA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,458 in Pasadena, CA and $2,682 in Spokane, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Pasadena, CA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,682 in Spokane, WA to $4,458 in Pasadena, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.