How much does it cost to rent in Pasadena, CA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Pasadena, CA is $2,939. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Pasadena cheaper than other California cities?

Pasadena falls in the middle range for California, ranking #164 out of 387 cities at $2,939/mo.

When was Pasadena rent data last updated?

Pasadena rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · CA

Pasadena

Name: Average Rent Prices in Pasadena, CA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 136,969·164th most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$2,939/mo

Year-over-Year

-0.9%

Month-over-Month

+1.2%

vs US Median

+$974

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Pasadena · $2,939

More expensive than 90% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

60/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 5% below what Pasadena's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$2,939/mo

Expected by trend

$3,089/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Pasadena's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,183

1 BR

$2,447

2 BR

$3,087

3 BR

$3,922

4 BR+

$4,348

Research median

$3,087/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$35,268/yr

At $2,939/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (-0.9% YoY, +1.2% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Pasadena, CA is majority renter-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 56.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

136,969

Median income

$105,192

Median age

40.1

Renters

57.5%

Age distribution

16.7%

24.9%

29.3%

17.4%

Under 1816.7%

18–3424.9%

35–5429.3%

55–6411.7%

65+17.4%

Gender

49.3%

50.7%

Male49.3%

Female50.7%

Race & ethnicity

39.2%

34%

17.4%

White39.2%

Black8.3%

Hispanic34%

Asian17.4%

Other1.1%

Education (25+)

12.8%

21%

56.1%

No HS diploma10.1%

HS diploma12.8%

Some college21%

Bachelor's+56.1%

Housing tenure

42.5%

57.5%

Owner42.5%

Renter57.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Pasadena, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,307 → $2,939

up 27.4%

Income

$89,661 → $105,192

up 17.3%

Population

138,771 → 136,969

down 1.3%

Renter share

57.7% → 57.5%

-0.2 pts

Bachelor's+

53.4% → 56.1%

+2.7 pts

Median age

39.1 → 40.1

+1.0 yrs

Rent in Pasadena, CA has climbed 27.4% since 2021, going from about $2,307 per month to roughly $2,939 today. Median household income grew from $89,661 to $105,192 between 2021 and 2024, a 17.3% shift. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 10.1 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 138,771 to 136,969 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.3% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 53.4% to 56.1%. Taken together, the five-year picture in Pasadena, CA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

Discussions about Pasadena

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View Pasadena rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Pasadena on your salary?

At $2,939/mo, how Pasadena rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 31.6% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 44.6% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 38.7% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 21.6% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 16.9% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 47.6% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 52.7% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 42.8% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Pasadena rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Pasadena. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Pasadena

About renting in Pasadena, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Pasadena is $2,939/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,183/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,087/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,447/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,922/mo.

At 34% of local median household income ($105,192/yr), Pasadena ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Pasadena an affordable city for renters?

Pasadena is considered moderate for renters. At $2,939/mo, rent takes approximately 34% of the local median household income ($105,192/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Pasadena slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Pasadena?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $118,000/year (~$57/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,939/mo in Pasadena. The local median household income is $105,192/yr, meaning the typical Pasadena household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Pasadena?

Rent in Pasadena has decreased 0.9% over the past year as of July 2026, offering some relief compared to 12 months ago.

Which Pasadena neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Pasadena are 91106 ($2,732/mo), 91104 ($2,772/mo), and 91101 ($2,901/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Pasadena is $2,939/mo.

How does Pasadena rent compare to other cities in California?

Pasadena is middle-of-the-pack for California for rent, ranking #164 out of 387 tracked cities at $2,939/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Pasadena?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Pasadena ($2,939/mo): South Pasadena ($2,565/mo), Alhambra ($2,592/mo), San Gabriel ($2,776/mo).

What percentage of Pasadena residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 57.5% of Pasadena households are renters, while 42.5% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Pasadena has a strong rental market.

How does Pasadena rent compare to the national average?

Pasadena's median rent of $2,939/mo is $974 (50%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #164 out of 387 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

34%

MODERATE

At $2,939/mo, rent takes ~34% of Pasadena's median household income ($105,192/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Pasadena 34%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Pasadena affordability calculator →

Nearby cities