2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Pasadena, CA vs Santa Maria, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Santa Maria or is it cheaper to live in Pasadena?
- Santa Maria is 4.3% less expensive than Pasadena.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Maria or Pasadena?
- Santa Maria housing costs are 50.6% less expensive than Pasadena housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Pasadena or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Maria.
- Health related expenses are 30.6% more in Santa Maria.
 Pasadena, CASanta Maria, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock154.7100
 Food & Groceries104.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock113.2100
 Housing340.3  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$565,100$338,100
 Utilities101  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock95.2100
 Miscellaneous133.4  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Pasadena    19 Reviews

Pasadena is a little slice of the world in the foothills above the San Gabriel Valley. It has everything you could want. Check out my video on the cost of living in  More

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Over 10 years ago

The weather in Pasadena, CA is rather pleasant. It does not get cold here, it used to be around the first two weeks of December it could go down to 32-28 F, only a few  More

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Over 11 years ago

Great place to live for all ages and enjoy mostly sunny  More

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Reviews for Santa Maria    12 Reviews

Over 6 years ago

I live in Orcutt which is a town of around 35,000 on the south side of Santa Maria. Santa Maria has, as everyone has noted, the best climate in the world. It never  More

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I have lived in Santa Maria / Orcutt for several years, but it is time to leave. I have no issues with the weather. Our climate is mild and comfortable with no extremes.  More

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The weather is very mild without a huge temperature change with the seasons. The winters are chilly but not cold and the summers are warm but not hot. Of course there  More

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