El Dorado Hills, CA vs Pasadena, CA

El Dorado Hills, CA and Pasadena, CA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.5% difference in their overall index. El Dorado Hills scores 184 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 El Dorado Hills is $2,468/month compared to $2,218/month in Pasadena — a 11% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Pasadena has cheaper rent, El Dorado Hills actually has lower median home values ($870,300 vs $1,045,000).

Median household income in El Dorado Hills is $163,544 compared to $103,778 in Pasadena (+57.6%). El Dorado Hills offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of El Dorado Hills spend roughly 18.1% of their income on rent, less than the 25.6% in Pasadena.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (63.4°F vs 65.8°F). El Dorado Hills receives more rainfall at 19.2" per year compared to 14.3" in Pasadena.