Pasadena, CA vs Mission Viejo, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Mission Viejo, CA has a modeled overall cost index 9.7% higher than Pasadena, CA.

Pasadena, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,095 / month
Mission Viejo, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,530 / 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 Mission Viejo, 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 extra cost: $224/month in Mission Viejo, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $152,687 in Mission Viejo, CA

Regional cost estimates: Pasadena, CA uses Los Angeles, CA. Mission Viejo, CA uses Irvine, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 9.7%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$224

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$2.7K

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

Mission Viejo, CA

Population:91K

Cost Index:

176.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.18M

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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.

Mission Viejo, CA

The Golden State

91K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 91K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Pasadena, CA vs Mission Viejo, 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	Mission Viejo, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,993/mo	$4,079/mo	↑ $85.98more	2.2%
Transportation	$1,236/mo	$1,298/mo	↑ $62.30more	5.0%
Other	$991/mo	$1,037/mo	↑ $45.94more	4.6%
Groceries	$619/mo	$634/mo	↑ $14.79more	2.4%
All Utilities	$332/mo	$340/mo	↑ $8.25more	2.5%
Healthcare	$329/mo	$336/mo	↑ $6.69more	2.0%

Housing

↑ 2.2%

Pasadena, CA

$3,993

Mission Viejo, CA

$4,079

Difference

$85.98

Transportation

↑ 5.0%

Pasadena, CA

$1,236

Mission Viejo, CA

$1,298

Difference

$62.30

Other

↑ 4.6%

Pasadena, CA

$991

Mission Viejo, CA

$1,037

Difference

$45.94

Groceries

↑ 2.4%

Pasadena, CA

$619

Mission Viejo, CA

$634

Difference

$14.79

All Utilities

↑ 2.5%

Pasadena, CA

$332

Mission Viejo, CA

$340

Difference

$8.25

Healthcare

↑ 2.0%

Pasadena, CA

$329

Mission Viejo, CA

$336

Difference

$6.69

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$2,215

To$2,930

↑ $715

1 Bed

From$2,480

To$3,000

↑ $520

2 Bed

From$3,095

To$3,530

↑ $435

3 Bed

From$3,925

To$4,790

↑ $865

Pasadena, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,010–$3,130/mo

Mission Viejo, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,860–$3,250/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

$7,724

Monthly in Mission Viejo, CA

$224

Difference

Home Values

Pasadena

Mission Viejo

$1.12M

Median Value

$1.18M

↓ -2%

YoY Change

↓ -1.7%

↑ +27.5%

5-Year Change

↑ +53%

$777K - $1.77M

Price Range

$1.17M - $1.29M

Homes in Mission Viejo are 6% more expensive than Pasadena

Calculate payment - Pasadena Calculate payment - Mission Viejo

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

Mission Viejo, 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%

Mission Viejo, 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

Mission Viejo

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

▲+2.3°F

17 days

Heat Days >95°F

5 days

▲+2.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.3°F

17 days

Heat Days >95°F

5 days

Before moving from Pasadena, CA to Mission Viejo, CA

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Mission Viejo, 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 Mission Viejo moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Pasadena, CA vs Mission Viejo, CA

How do the cost estimates for Pasadena, CA and Mission Viejo, CA compare?

Mission Viejo, CA has a modeled overall cost index 9.7% higher 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 $152,687 in Mission Viejo, 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 Mission Viejo, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $3,095/month in Pasadena, CA and $3,530/month in Mission Viejo, 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.