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

Which city costs less?

South Pasadena, CA has a modeled overall cost index 0.4% higher than Orinda, CA.

Orinda, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,280 / 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 Orinda, 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 Orinda, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $25.38/month in South Pasadena, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $149,695 in South Pasadena, CA

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

Overall Cost

↑ 0.4%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$25.38

Savings

Annual Impact

$305

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.

Orinda, CA

Population:19K

Cost Index:

153.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.87M

South Pasadena, CA

Population:26K

Cost Index:

154.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.62M

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Orinda, CA

The Golden State

19K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 19K 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: Orinda, 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	Orinda, CA	South Pasadena, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,674/mo	$3,966/mo	↑ $292more	8.0%
Other	$1,116/mo	$984/mo	↓ $131less	11.8%
Healthcare	$435/mo	$334/mo	↓ $102less	23.3%
Groceries	$714/mo	$627/mo	↓ $87.64less	12.3%
All Utilities	$276/mo	$336/mo	↑ $59.67more	21.6%
Transportation	$1,284/mo	$1,227/mo	↓ $56.85less	4.4%

Housing

↑ 8.0%

Orinda, CA

$3,674

South Pasadena, CA

$3,966

Difference

$292

Other

↓ 11.8%

Orinda, CA

$1,116

South Pasadena, CA

$984

Difference

$131

less

Healthcare

↓ 23.3%

Orinda, CA

$435

South Pasadena, CA

$334

Difference

$102

less

Groceries

↓ 12.3%

Orinda, CA

$714

South Pasadena, CA

$627

Difference

$87.64

less

All Utilities

↑ 21.6%

Orinda, CA

$276

South Pasadena, CA

$336

Difference

$59.67

Transportation

↓ 4.4%

Orinda, CA

$1,284

South Pasadena, CA

$1,227

Difference

$56.85

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$2,410

To$2,210

↓ $200

1 Bed

From$2,690

To$2,470

↓ $220

2 Bed

From$3,280

To$3,080

↓ $200

3 Bed

From$4,190

To$3,900

↓ $290

Orinda, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,690–$2,690/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 Orinda, CA

$7,475

Monthly in South Pasadena, CA

$25.38

Difference

Home Values

Orinda

South Pasadena

$1.87M

Median Value

$1.62M

↓ -1.2%

YoY Change

↑ +3.3%

↑ +17.8%

5-Year Change

↑ +36.3%

Homes in South Pasadena are 13% less expensive than Orinda

Calculate payment - Orinda 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

Orinda, 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

Orinda, 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

Orinda

South Pasadena

49 Good

Air Quality

80 Moderate

53%

Good Air Days

10.4%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥🌊🌅

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌅

▲+1.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

2 days

Heat Days >95°F

17 days

▲+1.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

2 days

Heat Days >95°F

17 days

Before moving from Orinda, 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 Orinda, 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 Orinda 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: Orinda, CA vs South Pasadena, CA

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

South Pasadena, CA has a modeled overall cost index 0.4% higher than Orinda, 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 Orinda, CA, the model estimates $149,695 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 Orinda, CA and South Pasadena, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $3,280/month in Orinda, 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.