Median rent is 16% lower in Los Angeles ($1,879/mo vs $2,247/mo). Buying is cheaper in Pasadena, where the median home runs $406,900 versus $879,500. Households earn more in Pasadena ($119,393 vs $80,366 a year).
City A
Los Angeles, CA
City B
Pasadena, MD
How much would you need to earn in Pasadena, MD to maintain your standard of living from Los Angeles, CA?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Los Angeles
California
Pasadena
Maryland
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Los Angeles at $1,879/mo compared to $2,247/mo in Pasadena (16% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in Los Angeles: the median home is $879,500 versus $406,900 in Pasadena — 54% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
California's top income tax rate is 13.30% versus 5.75% in Maryland, so Pasadena is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 7.25% in California and 6.00% in Maryland; Pasadena has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Los Angeles
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
Pasadena
Income tax: 5.75%
Sales tax: 6.00%
Air quality data is available for Los Angeles (avg AQI 77.0) but not yet for Pasadena.
Pick Pasadena if you prioritize higher median household income ($119,393/yr).
Pick Los Angeles if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,879/mo median).
Pick Pasadena if you prioritize lower state income tax (5.75%).
Is Los Angeles cheaper than Pasadena?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Los Angeles vs Pasadena?
Median rent is $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, CA and $2,247/mo in Pasadena, MD. Los Angeles, CA has the lower rent by about 16%.
Which has higher salaries — Los Angeles or Pasadena?
Median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $119,393 in Pasadena, MD. Pasadena, MD has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — Los Angeles or Pasadena?
California's top income tax rate is 13.30% and Maryland's is 5.75%. Pasadena, MD has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Pasadena to match my Los Angeles income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology