Aliso Viejo, CA vs Pasadena, CA

Aliso Viejo, CA and Pasadena, CA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1% difference in their overall index. Aliso Viejo scores 195 while Pasadena scores 193 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Aliso Viejo is $2,774/month compared to $2,218/month in Pasadena — a 25% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Pasadena has cheaper rent, Aliso Viejo actually has lower median home values ($863,800 vs $1,045,000).

Median household income in Aliso Viejo is $137,970 compared to $103,778 in Pasadena (+32.9%). While Aliso Viejo is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Aliso Viejo spend roughly 24.1% of their income on rent, less than the 25.6% in Pasadena.