Pasadena, CA vs Costa Mesa, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Costa Mesa, CA has a modeled overall cost index 6.3% lower than Pasadena, CA.

Pasadena, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,095 / month
Costa Mesa, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,400 / 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 Pasadena, CA and Costa Mesa, 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 Pasadena, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $582/month in Costa Mesa, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $143,013 in Costa Mesa, CA

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

Overall Cost

↓ 6.3%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$582

Savings

Annual Impact

$7.0K

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.

Pasadena, CA

Population:134K

Cost Index:

160.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.12M

Costa Mesa, CA

Population:108K

Cost Index:

150.5

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.35M

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Pasadena, CA

The Golden State

134K

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Costa Mesa, CA

The Golden State

108K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 108K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Pasadena, CA vs Costa Mesa, 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	Pasadena, CA	Costa Mesa, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,993/mo	$3,262/mo	↓ $732less	18.3%
Transportation	$1,236/mo	$1,303/mo	↑ $67.24more	5.4%
Other	$991/mo	$1,041/mo	↑ $49.88more	5.0%
Groceries	$619/mo	$635/mo	↑ $16.00more	2.6%
All Utilities	$332/mo	$340/mo	↑ $8.90more	2.7%
Healthcare	$329/mo	$337/mo	↑ $7.33more	2.2%

Housing

↓ 18.3%

Pasadena, CA

$3,993

Costa Mesa, CA

$3,262

Difference

$732

less

Transportation

↑ 5.4%

Pasadena, CA

$1,236

Costa Mesa, CA

$1,303

Difference

$67.24

Other

↑ 5.0%

Pasadena, CA

$991

Costa Mesa, CA

$1,041

Difference

$49.88

Groceries

↑ 2.6%

Pasadena, CA

$619

Costa Mesa, CA

$635

Difference

$16.00

All Utilities

↑ 2.7%

Pasadena, CA

$332

Costa Mesa, CA

$340

Difference

$8.90

Healthcare

↑ 2.2%

Pasadena, CA

$329

Costa Mesa, CA

$337

Difference

$7.33

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$2,215

To$2,815

↑ $600

1 Bed

From$2,480

To$2,885

↑ $405

2 Bed

From$3,095

To$3,400

↑ $305

3 Bed

From$3,925

To$4,615

↑ $690

Pasadena, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,010–$3,130/mo

Costa Mesa, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,710–$3,060/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 Pasadena, CA

$6,918

Monthly in Costa Mesa, CA

$582

Difference

Home Values

Pasadena

Costa Mesa

$1.12M

Median Value

$1.35M

↓ -2%

YoY Change

↑ +2.5%

↑ +27.5%

5-Year Change

↑ +50.2%

$777K - $1.77M

Price Range

$1.32M - $1.37M

Homes in Costa Mesa are 21% more expensive than Pasadena

Calculate payment - Pasadena Calculate payment - Costa Mesa

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

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

Costa Mesa, 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

Pasadena, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Costa Mesa, 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

Pasadena

Costa Mesa

80 Moderate

Air Quality

54 Moderate

10.4%

Good Air Days

32.5%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥🌊🌅

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌅

▲+2.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

17 days

Heat Days >95°F

12 days

▲+2.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

17 days

Heat Days >95°F

12 days

Before moving from Pasadena, CA to Costa Mesa, CA

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Costa Mesa, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Pasadena, 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 Pasadena to Costa Mesa moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Pasadena, CA vs Costa Mesa, CA

How do the cost estimates for Pasadena, CA and Costa Mesa, CA compare?

Costa Mesa, CA has a modeled overall cost index 6.3% lower than Pasadena, 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 Pasadena, CA, the model estimates $143,013 in Costa Mesa, 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 Pasadena, CA and Costa Mesa, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $3,095/month in Pasadena, CA and $3,400/month in Costa Mesa, 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.