South Pasadena, CA vs Culver City, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Culver City, CA has a modeled overall cost index 1.0% higher than South Pasadena, CA.

South Pasadena, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,080 / month
Culver City, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,460 / 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

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓

Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare South Pasadena, CA and Culver City, 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 South Pasadena, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $70.29/month in Culver City, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $150,843 in Culver City, CA

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

Overall Cost

↑ 1.0%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$70.29

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$843

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.

South Pasadena, CA

Population:26K

Cost Index:

154.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.62M

Culver City, CA

Population:39K

Cost Index:

156.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.37M

Planning the move to Culver City?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

South Pasadena, CA

The Golden State

26K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 26K residents.

Culver City, CA

The Golden State

39K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 39K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: South Pasadena, CA vs Culver City, 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	South Pasadena, CA	Culver City, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,980/mo	$4,021/mo	↑ $40.85more	1.0%
Transportation	$1,232/mo	$1,244/mo	↑ $12.64more	1.0%
Other	$988/mo	$998/mo	↑ $10.14more	1.0%
Groceries	$629/mo	$632/mo	↑ $3.22more	0.5%
All Utilities	$337/mo	$339/mo	↑ $1.72more	0.5%
Healthcare	$335/mo	$337/mo	↑ $1.71more	0.5%

Housing

↑ 1.0%

South Pasadena, CA

$3,980

Culver City, CA

$4,021

Difference

$40.85

Transportation

↑ 1.0%

South Pasadena, CA

$1,232

Culver City, CA

$1,244

Difference

$12.64

Other

↑ 1.0%

South Pasadena, CA

$988

Culver City, CA

$998

Difference

$10.14

Groceries

↑ 0.5%

South Pasadena, CA

$629

Culver City, CA

$632

Difference

$3.22

All Utilities

↑ 0.5%

South Pasadena, CA

$337

Culver City, CA

$339

Difference

$1.72

Healthcare

↑ 0.5%

South Pasadena, CA

$335

Culver City, CA

$337

Difference

$1.71

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$2,210

To$2,480

↑ $270

1 Bed

From$2,470

To$2,775

↑ $305

2 Bed

From$3,080

To$3,460

↑ $380

3 Bed

From$3,900

To$4,385

↑ $485

South Pasadena, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,470–$2,470/mo

Culver City, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,730–$2,820/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 South Pasadena, CA

$7,570

Monthly in Culver City, CA

$70.29

Difference

Home Values

South Pasadena

Culver City

$1.62M

Median Value

$1.37M

↑ +3.3%

YoY Change

↓ -0.5%

↑ +36.3%

5-Year Change

↑ +14.4%

$1.62M

Price Range

$1.06M - $1.68M

Homes in Culver City are 15% less expensive than South Pasadena

Calculate payment - South Pasadena Calculate payment - Culver City

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

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

Culver City, 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

South Pasadena, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Culver City, 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

South Pasadena

Culver City

80 Moderate

Air Quality

80 Moderate

10.4%

Good Air Days

10.4%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥🌊🌅

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌅

▲+2.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

17 days

Heat Days >95°F

17 days

▲+2.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

17 days

Heat Days >95°F

17 days

Before moving from South Pasadena, CA to Culver City, CA

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: South Pasadena, CA vs Culver City, CA

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

Culver City, CA has a modeled overall cost index 1.0% higher than South 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 South Pasadena, CA, the model estimates $150,843 in Culver City, 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 South Pasadena, CA and Culver City, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $3,080/month in South Pasadena, CA and $3,460/month in Culver City, 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.