City comparison
Cost indices by category, with the US city average (100) marked.
Index: 100 = US city average. Lower is more affordable.
Side-by-side costs, salaries, and sub-category indices.
| Metric | Austin | Pasadena | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,549/mo | $2,100/mo | 26.2% lower in A |
| Median home value | $461,500 | $981,600 | 53.0% lower in A |
| Median household income | $86,556 | $97,818 | 11.5% lower in A |
| Groceries index | 104.2 | 110.4 | 5.6% lower in A |
| Utilities index | 102.6 | 135.3 | 24.2% lower in A |
| Transportation index | 91.7 | 117.6 | 22.0% lower in A |
| Healthcare index | 110.4 | 121.5 | 9.1% lower in A |
How much you'd need to earn in the other city to keep the same standard of living.
If you earn $100,000 in Austin, you'd need $126,600 in Pasadena to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
Austin, TX is about 21% cheaper overall than Pasadena, CA, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 26% lower in Austin than in Pasadena. If you earn $80,000 in Austin, you'd need about $101,280 in Pasadena to keep the same standard of living.