What is the cost of living in San Diego, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, San Diego has an overall cost of living index of 175, which is 1.8x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, San Diego has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in San Diego ranks as #451 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies San Diego ranks as the #183 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in San Diego, check out:
San Diego Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in San Diego. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in San Diego is 121.
The Groceries index in San Diego is 121.
The Health index in San Diego is 296.
The Housing index in San Diego is 127.
The Transportation index in San Diego is 131.
The Utilities index in San Diego is 135.
| Living Expense | San Diego | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 175 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 121 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 121 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 296 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 127 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 131 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 135 | 121 | 100 |
San Diego Cost Of Living Compared To California Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in San Diego Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
San Diego, CA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in California, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in San Diego is $1,001,264.
The Median Rent in San Diego is $2,313.
The Median Income in San Diego is $108,077.
The Home Value To Income in San Diego is 9.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in San Diego is 0.26x.
| Statistic | San Diego | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,001,264 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,313 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $108,077 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.3x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
San Diego, CA Costs By Category
Detailed San Diego Services costs vs. California
| Item | San Diego | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.5 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $16.89 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.92 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $65.77 | $45.56 |
Detailed San Diego Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | San Diego | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.47 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $3.05 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.98 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.94 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.69 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.25 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.73 | $3.7 |
Detailed San Diego Health costs vs. California
| Item | San Diego | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $138.66 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $132.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $121.37 | $113.29 |
Detailed San Diego Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | San Diego | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.68 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.4 | $59.92 |
Detailed San Diego Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | San Diego | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.42 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
San Diego SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around San Diego
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around San Diego. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
El Cajon, CA has a cost of living index of 152, 0.9x San Diego.
Encinitas, CA has a cost of living index of 213, 1.2x San Diego.
La Mesa, CA has a cost of living index of 161, 0.9x San Diego.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. San Diego |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Cajon, CA | 104,449 | 152 | 0.9x |
| Encinitas, CA | 61,480 | 213 | 1.2x |
| La Mesa, CA | 60,797 | 161 | 0.9x |
| Santee, CA | 59,332 | 155 | 0.9x |
| Poway, CA | 48,713 | 179 | 1.0x |
| La Presa, CA | 34,962 | 145 | 0.8x |
| Lemon Grove, CA | 27,686 | 145 | 0.8x |
| Winter Gardens, CA | 22,131 | 149 | 0.9x |
| Rancho San Diego, CA | 21,272 | 172 | 1.0x |
| Casa de Oro-Mount Helix, CA | 19,765 | 171 | 1.0x |
