Huntington Beach, CA vs Pasadena, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Pasadena, CA has a modeled overall cost index 4.3% higher than Huntington Beach, CA.

Huntington Beach, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,340 / month
Pasadena, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,095 / 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 Huntington Beach, CA and 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 Huntington Beach, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $65.67/month in Pasadena, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $150,788 in Pasadena, CA

Regional cost estimates: Huntington Beach, CA uses Santa Ana, CA. Pasadena, CA uses Los Angeles, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 4.3%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$65.67

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$788

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.

Huntington Beach, CA

Population:192K

Cost Index:

154.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.32M

Pasadena, CA

Population:134K

Cost Index:

160.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.12M

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Huntington Beach, CA

The Golden State

192K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 192K residents.

Pasadena, CA

The Golden State

134K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 134K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Huntington Beach, CA vs 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	Huntington Beach, CA	Pasadena, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,741/mo	$4,028/mo	↑ $287more	7.7%
Transportation	$1,345/mo	$1,247/mo	↓ $98.55less	7.3%
Other	$1,075/mo	$1,000/mo	↓ $74.86less	7.0%
Groceries	$648/mo	$624/mo	↓ $23.58less	3.6%
All Utilities	$347/mo	$334/mo	↓ $12.97less	3.7%
Healthcare	$344/mo	$332/mo	↓ $11.34less	3.3%

Housing

↑ 7.7%

Huntington Beach, CA

$3,741

Pasadena, CA

$4,028

Difference

$287

Transportation

↓ 7.3%

Huntington Beach, CA

$1,345

Pasadena, CA

$1,247

Difference

$98.55

less

Other

↓ 7.0%

Huntington Beach, CA

$1,075

Pasadena, CA

$1,000

Difference

$74.86

less

Groceries

↓ 3.6%

Huntington Beach, CA

$648

Pasadena, CA

$624

Difference

$23.58

less

All Utilities

↓ 3.7%

Huntington Beach, CA

$347

Pasadena, CA

$334

Difference

$12.97

less

Healthcare

↓ 3.3%

Huntington Beach, CA

$344

Pasadena, CA

$332

Difference

$11.34

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$2,770

To$2,215

↓ $555

1 Bed

From$2,830

To$2,480

↓ $350

2 Bed

From$3,340

To$3,095

↓ $245

3 Bed

From$4,530

To$3,925

↓ $605

Huntington Beach, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,730–$2,920/mo

Pasadena, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,010–$3,130/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 Huntington Beach, CA

$7,566

Monthly in Pasadena, CA

$65.67

Difference

Home Values

Huntington Beach

Pasadena

$1.32M

Median Value

$1.12M

↑ +2.5%

YoY Change

↓ -2%

↑ +45.5%

5-Year Change

↑ +27.5%

$1.20M - $1.49M

Price Range

$777K - $1.77M

Homes in Pasadena are 16% less expensive than Huntington Beach

Calculate payment - Huntington Beach Calculate payment - 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

Huntington Beach, 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

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

Huntington Beach, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

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

Huntington Beach

Pasadena

54 Moderate

Air Quality

80 Moderate

32.5%

Good Air Days

10.4%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥🌊🌅

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌅

▲+2.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

12 days

Heat Days >95°F

17 days

▲+2.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

12 days

Heat Days >95°F

17 days

Before moving from Huntington Beach, CA to 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 Pasadena, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Huntington Beach, 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 Huntington Beach to Pasadena moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Huntington Beach, CA vs Pasadena, CA

How do the cost estimates for Huntington Beach, CA and Pasadena, CA compare?

Pasadena, CA has a modeled overall cost index 4.3% higher than Huntington Beach, 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 Huntington Beach, CA, the model estimates $150,788 in 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 Huntington Beach, CA and Pasadena, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $3,340/month in Huntington Beach, CA and $3,095/month in 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.