Irvine, CA vs Pasadena, CA

Pasadena is moderately more affordable than Irvine, with a 13.6% lower cost of living index. Irvine scores 219 compared to 193 for Pasadena, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Irvine can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Irvine is $2,893/month compared to $2,218/month in Pasadena — a 30% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Pasadena is more affordable at $1,045,000 median vs $1,115,400.

Median household income in Irvine is $129,647 compared to $103,778 in Pasadena (+24.9%). While Irvine is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Irvine spend roughly 26.8% of their income on rent, more than the 25.6% in Pasadena.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (64.9°F vs 65.8°F). Pasadena receives more rainfall at 14.3" per year compared to 11.2" in Irvine.