Long Beach, CA vs Pasadena, CA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Long Beach is 18.5% cheaper than Pasadena. With a cost index of 157 vs 193, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Long Beach to Pasadena should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Long Beach is $1,803/month compared to $2,218/month in Pasadena — a 19% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Long Beach is more affordable at $762,200 median vs $1,045,000.

Median household income in Long Beach is $83,969 compared to $103,778 in Pasadena (-19.1%). While Pasadena is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Long Beach spend roughly 25.8% 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 12" in Long Beach.