Goleta, CA vs South Pasadena, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

South Pasadena, CA has a modeled overall cost index 13.8% higher than Goleta, CA.

Goleta, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,450 / month
South Pasadena, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,080 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Goleta, CA and South Pasadena, CA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Goleta, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $990/month in South Pasadena, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $161,880 in South Pasadena, CA

Regional cost estimates: Goleta, CA uses Oxnard, CA. South Pasadena, CA uses Los Angeles, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 13.8%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$990

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$11.9K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Goleta, CA

Population:33K

Cost Index:

135.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.34M

South Pasadena, CA

Population:26K

Cost Index:

154.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.62M

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Goleta, CA

The Golden State

33K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 33K residents.

South Pasadena, CA

The Golden State

26K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 26K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Goleta, CA vs South Pasadena, CA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Goleta, CA	South Pasadena, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,214/mo	$4,505/mo	↑ $1,291more	40.2%
Other	$1,331/mo	$1,118/mo	↓ $213less	16.0%
Transportation	$1,454/mo	$1,394/mo	↓ $59.75less	4.1%
Groceries	$726/mo	$712/mo	↓ $14.40less	2.0%
All Utilities	$390/mo	$381/mo	↓ $8.09less	2.1%
Healthcare	$385/mo	$379/mo	↓ $6.31less	1.6%

Housing

↑ 40.2%

Goleta, CA

$3,214

South Pasadena, CA

$4,505

Difference

$1,291

Other

↓ 16.0%

Goleta, CA

$1,331

South Pasadena, CA

$1,118

Difference

$213

less

Transportation

↓ 4.1%

Goleta, CA

$1,454

South Pasadena, CA

$1,394

Difference

$59.75

less

Groceries

↓ 2.0%

Goleta, CA

$726

South Pasadena, CA

$712

Difference

$14.40

less

All Utilities

↓ 2.1%

Goleta, CA

$390

South Pasadena, CA

$381

Difference

$8.09

less

Healthcare

↓ 1.6%

Goleta, CA

$385

South Pasadena, CA

$379

Difference

$6.31

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$2,720

To$2,210

↓ $510

1 Bed

From$3,030

To$2,470

↓ $560

2 Bed

From$3,450

To$3,080

↓ $370

3 Bed

From$4,500

To$3,900

↓ $600

Goleta, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $3,030–$3,030/mo

South Pasadena, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,470–$2,470/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Goleta, CA

$8,490

Monthly in South Pasadena, CA

$990

Difference

Home Values

Goleta

South Pasadena

$1.34M

Median Value

$1.62M

↓ -3.2%

YoY Change

↑ +3.3%

↑ +43.6%

5-Year Change

↑ +36.3%

Homes in South Pasadena are 20% more expensive than Goleta

Calculate payment - Goleta Calculate payment - South Pasadena

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Goleta, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

South Pasadena, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

Additional Tax Information

Goleta, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

South Pasadena, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Goleta

South Pasadena

50 Good

Air Quality

80 Moderate

52.2%

Good Air Days

10.4%

99 High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥🌊🫨

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌅

▲+2.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

2 days

Heat Days >95°F

17 days

▲+2.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

2 days

Heat Days >95°F

17 days

Before moving from Goleta, CA to South Pasadena, CA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in South Pasadena, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Goleta, CA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Goleta to South Pasadena moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to South Pasadena, CA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Goleta, CA vs South Pasadena, CA

How do the cost estimates for Goleta, CA and South Pasadena, CA compare?

South Pasadena, CA has a modeled overall cost index 13.8% higher than Goleta, CA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Goleta, CA, the model estimates $161,880 in South Pasadena, CA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Goleta, CA and South Pasadena, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $3,450/month in Goleta, CA and $3,080/month in South Pasadena, CA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.