Last update: Oct 2026

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

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.

124

Cost of Living Index in Spokane, WA
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Spokane, WA Living Index
173

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

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Spokane, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,601

/mo nomad

Pasadena, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,590

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Spokane, WA is about 28% cheaper than Pasadena, CA.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$18.03 $18.03

9.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.9 $74.9

$76.4 $76.4

-1.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.84 $12.84

$9.91 $9.91

29.57%

Cappuccino

$5.01 $5.01

$4.81 $4.81

4.16%

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

$2.42 $2.42

$2.78 $2.78

-12.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.58 $1.58

38.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.85 $6.85

$4.94 $4.94

38.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.18 $6.18

$5.87 $5.87

5.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.34 $1.34

-30.60%

White Bread (500g)

$3.27 $3.27

$3.87 $3.87

-15.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.68 $4.68

$2.81 $2.81

66.55%

Eggs

$5.79 $5.79

$5.20 $5.20

11.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.79 $15.79

$13.81 $13.81

14.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.56 $13.56

$13.48 $13.48

0.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.66 $16.66

$12.44 $12.44

33.92%

Apples (1kg)

$6.32 $6.32

$4.72 $4.72

33.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.25 $2.25

-24.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.44 $5.44

$4.37 $4.37

24.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.62 $5.62

$6.01 $6.01

-6.49%

Potato (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$4.50 $4.50

-30.44%

Onion (1kg)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.40 $2.40

28.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.86 $1.86

10.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.15 $2.15

-14.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.07 $12.07

$11.92 $11.92

1.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.24 $14.24

$10.89 $10.89

30.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.65 $1.65

12.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.81 $4.81

$1.81 $1.81

165.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.72 $1.72

13.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.7 $60.7

$51.0 $51.0

19.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$3.41 $3.41

49.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.89 $1.89

-9.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.78 $39.78

$24.30 $24.30

63.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.59 $1.59

-14.47%

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

$27.8K $27.8K

$27.7K $27.7K

0.38%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$25.7K $25.7K

5.32%

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

$174 $174

$249 $249

-30.06%

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

$75.8 $75.8

$59.5 $59.5

27.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.9 $73.9

$65.9 $65.9

12.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.38 $44.38

$25.12 $25.12

76.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.84 $14.84

$34.52 $34.52

-57.01%

Cinema Ticket

$16.13 $16.13

$12.12 $12.12

33.09%

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

$1,403 $1,403

$3,909 $3,909

-64.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.4K $21.4K

$14.7K $14.7K

44.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.4 $52.4

$31.13 $31.13

68.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.55 $49.55

$34.65 $34.65

43.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$70.8 $70.8

63.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$141 $141

2.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,625 $1,625

$3,070 $3,070

-47.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,200 $1,200

$2,285 $2,285

-47.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,093 $3,093

$4,691 $4,691

-34.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,950 $1,950

$3,729 $3,729

-47.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,290 $3,290

$8,964 $8,964

-63.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,276 $2,276

$9,058 $9,058

-74.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,440 $4,440

$5,466 $5,466

-18.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.76

6.33

6.79%

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

Last update for Spokane, WA: October 25, 2026

Last update for Pasadena, CA: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Spokane, WA

$1.2K 46.1%

Pasadena, CA

$2.3K 63.6% 90.5% $1.1K

Groceries & Markets

Spokane, WA

$434 16.7%

Pasadena, CA

$400 11.2% 7.8% $34

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Spokane, WA

$324 12.5%

Pasadena, CA

$375 10.4% 15.6% $51

Eating Out

Spokane, WA

$321 12.4%

Pasadena, CA

$286 8% 11.1% $36

Clothing & Footwear

Spokane, WA

$163 6.3%

Pasadena, CA

$125 3.5% 23.3% $38

Getting Around

Spokane, WA

$82 3.2%

Pasadena, CA

$71 2% 13.9% $11

Sport & Entertainment

Spokane, WA

$77 3%

Pasadena, CA

$49 1.4% 35.6% $27

Cost Breakdown

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

Good to know

🇺🇸 Spokane, WA

🇺🇸 Pasadena, CA

🕒 Local time

12:01 12:01 PM

Same time as Spokane, WA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

228,989

137,122

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

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

From you

Spokane, WA
Pasadena, CA

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

Spokane, WA vs Pasadena, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,901 per month in Spokane, WA and $5,385 in Pasadena, CA. 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 $2,601 in Spokane, WA and $3,590 in Pasadena, CA. That’s a gap of about 38%.

Kindergarten costs $1,403 per month in Spokane, WA and $3,909 in Pasadena, CA. 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.