Sierra Madre, CA vs Pacific Grove, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Pacific Grove, CA has a modeled overall cost index 8.4% higher than Sierra Madre, CA.

Sierra Madre, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,810 / month
Pacific Grove, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,560 / 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 Sierra Madre, CA and Pacific Grove, 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 Sierra Madre, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $210/month in Pacific Grove, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $152,519 in Pacific Grove, CA

Regional cost estimates: Sierra Madre, CA uses Los Angeles, CA. Pacific Grove, CA uses San Jose, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 8.4%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$210

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$2.5K

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.

Sierra Madre, CA

Population:11K

Cost Index:

151.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.39M

Pacific Grove, CA

Population:15K

Cost Index:

163.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.34M

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Sierra Madre, CA

The Golden State

11K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 11K residents.

Pacific Grove, CA

The Golden State

15K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 15K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Sierra Madre, CA vs Pacific Grove, 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	Sierra Madre, CA	Pacific Grove, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,972/mo	$4,633/mo	↑ $660more	16.6%
Transportation	$1,229/mo	$749/mo	↓ $480less	39.1%
Healthcare	$338/mo	$417/mo	↑ $78.70more	23.3%
All Utilities	$340/mo	$274/mo	↓ $66.04less	19.4%
Groceries	$635/mo	$666/mo	↑ $31.43more	5.0%
Other	$986/mo	$972/mo	↓ $14.31less	1.5%

Housing

↑ 16.6%

Sierra Madre, CA

$3,972

Pacific Grove, CA

$4,633

Difference

$660

Transportation

↓ 39.1%

Sierra Madre, CA

$1,229

Pacific Grove, CA

$749

Difference

$480

less

Healthcare

↑ 23.3%

Sierra Madre, CA

$338

Pacific Grove, CA

$417

Difference

$78.70

All Utilities

↓ 19.4%

Sierra Madre, CA

$340

Pacific Grove, CA

$274

Difference

$66.04

less

Groceries

↑ 5.0%

Sierra Madre, CA

$635

Pacific Grove, CA

$666

Difference

$31.43

Other

↓ 1.5%

Sierra Madre, CA

$986

Pacific Grove, CA

$972

Difference

$14.31

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$2,010

To$2,880

↑ $870

1 Bed

From$2,250

To$2,960

↑ $710

2 Bed

From$2,810

To$3,560

↑ $750

3 Bed

From$3,560

To$4,800

↑ $1,240

Sierra Madre, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,250–$2,250/mo

Pacific Grove, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,960–$2,960/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 Sierra Madre, CA

$7,710

Monthly in Pacific Grove, CA

$210

Difference

Home Values

Sierra Madre

Pacific Grove

$1.39M

Median Value

$1.34M

↓ -2.8%

YoY Change

↓ -1.9%

↑ +27%

5-Year Change

↑ +32%

Homes in Pacific Grove are 3% less expensive than Sierra Madre

Calculate payment - Sierra Madre Calculate payment - Pacific Grove

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

Sierra Madre, 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

Pacific Grove, 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

Sierra Madre, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Pacific Grove, 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

Sierra Madre

Pacific Grove

80 Moderate

Air Quality

47 Good

10.4%

Good Air Days

55.4%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥🌊🌅

Top Hazards

🌊🌅🌡

▲+2.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.0°F

17 days

Heat Days >95°F

11 days

▲+2.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.0°F

17 days

Heat Days >95°F

11 days

Before moving from Sierra Madre, CA to Pacific Grove, CA

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Pacific Grove, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Sierra Madre, 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 Sierra Madre to Pacific Grove moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Sierra Madre, CA vs Pacific Grove, CA

How do the cost estimates for Sierra Madre, CA and Pacific Grove, CA compare?

Pacific Grove, CA has a modeled overall cost index 8.4% higher than Sierra Madre, 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 Sierra Madre, CA, the model estimates $152,519 in Pacific Grove, 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 Sierra Madre, CA and Pacific Grove, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,810/month in Sierra Madre, CA and $3,560/month in Pacific Grove, 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.