Cost of Living in San Diego, CA (2026)

San Diego's cost of living is 12% above the US average. $100,000 here is worth about $89,376 nationally. Rent, homes and monthly costs.

San Diego has a cost-of-living index of 112 against a US average of 100 — about 12% above average. $100,000 of income here is worth roughly $89,376 at the national average.

What it costs to live in San Diego

MeasureSan DiegoUS average
Cost-of-living index112100
Median rent$2,223/mo-
Median home value$848,500-
Median household income$104,321-
Population1,385,061-

Monthly cost breakdown in San Diego

Estimates use BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey shares scaled by the local cost-of-living index. Housing uses the city’s median rent; the owning column uses a 30-year mortgage at 6.7% with 10% down on the median home.

CategoryRentingOwning
Housing$2,223$4,928
Transport$1,595$1,595
Food$1,255$1,255
Healthcare$788$788
Other$2,801$2,801
Total$8,662$11,367

Affordability in San Diego

Median rent takes about 25.6% of the median household income in San Diego — comfortably inside the 30% rule of thumb.

The median home costs 8.1x the median household income. Three times income is the traditional comfort line; five times is where affordability usually breaks down.

Highest-paying roles in San Diego

RoleTypical salaryWorth nationally
Marketing Manager$169,420$151,421
Software Developer$152,600$136,388
Registered Nurse$132,750$118,646
Data Scientist$127,300$113,776
Mechanical Engineer$122,350$109,351
Police Officer$109,540$97,902
Physical Therapist$105,480$94,274
Teacher$105,100$93,934

“Worth nationally” adjusts each salary for San Diego’s cost of living, so you can compare offers between cities on equal terms.

Compare San Diego with another city

What would your salary be worth in San Diego?

What you earn (or want to compare)

Frequently asked questions

San Diego has a cost-of-living index of 112 against a US average of 100, so it is about 12% above the national average. In practical terms, $100,000 of income in San Diego has roughly the purchasing power of $89,376 at the national average.

A common benchmark is keeping rent at or under 30% of gross income. At San Diego's median rent of $2,223/month that implies about $88,920 a year before tax. The median household in San Diego earns $104,321.

Renting, a single household spends roughly $8,662 a month in San Diego across housing, transport, food, healthcare and everything else. Buying at the median home price, the estimate is about $11,367 a month including a 30-year mortgage at 6.7% with 10% down.

The median home in San Diego costs $848,500, which is 8.1x the median household income of $104,321. Lenders traditionally treat 3x as comfortable and about 5x as stretched, so San Diego is expensive relative to local incomes.