City profile
San Diego, CA cost of living
CA · BLS RPP 114.5
Latest official changes
Updates affecting San Diego, CA
Existing city metrics remain tied to the current verified ReloMath dataset until the owner flips the new data vintage. Use these rows as dated official-source change receipts.
Overall RPP
114.5
US = 100
Housing RPP
183.9
Housing component
Goods RPP
108.2
Goods component
2-BR Rent (HUD)
$2,833/mo
FY2024 FMR
Where San Diego, CA sits in the verified metro set
RPP rank
#3 of 67
+14.5 vs U.S. average
Vs median metro
+16.1
median RPP 98.4
2-BR rent rank
#3 of 67
+1,227/mo vs median verified metro
RPP ranks use only verified ReloMath metro records. Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2022 (Table 4); HUD FY2024 Fair Market Rents (2-BR); reviewed June 2026. These are official published averages, not neighborhood-level prices.
Who’s moving in and out of San Diego, CA
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Cost of living is only half the relocation question. The other half is which way people are actually voting with their feet, straight from IRS tax-return migration for the San Diego, CA metro.
Moved in
112,882
people · 70,260 households
Moved out
139,747
people · 79,590 households
Net
−26,865
net loss of residents
Net migration rank
#57 of 65
among IRS-covered ReloMath metros
Vs median net flow
-26,761
median -104 people
Largest flow share
9% in / 11% out
top named county shares
Where new residents came from
- Los Angeles County, CA 9,731
- Riverside County, CA 8,464
- Orange County, CA 5,939
- Santa Clara County, CA 2,882
- San Bernardino County, CA 2,760
Where residents moved to
- Riverside County, CA 14,864
- Los Angeles County, CA 7,113
- Orange County, CA 4,901
- Maricopa County, AZ 4,285
- Clark County, NV 3,275
Counts are IRS tax filers (returns ≈ households, individuals ≈ exemptions) who changed address between 2021-2022. Flows too small for IRS to disclose are grouped and excluded from the named lists. Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration data ↗, mapped to metros via the U.S. Census CBSA delineation.
What salary do you need in San Diego, CA?
Equivalent salary to maintain the same purchasing power as in a US-average city (RPP 100).
| In US-average city | You need in San Diego, CA | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $57,250 | $50,000 x (114.5/100) |
| $75,000 | $85,875 | $75,000 x (114.5/100) |
| $100,000 | $114,500 | $100,000 x (114.5/100) |
| $125,000 | $143,125 | $125,000 x (114.5/100) |
| $150,000 | $171,750 | $150,000 x (114.5/100) |
| $200,000 | $229,000 | $200,000 x (114.5/100) |
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
State income tax note
California income tax 1%-13.3%. No city income tax.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in San Diego, CA?
- San Diego, CA has a BLS Regional Price Parity of 114.5 (US average = 100). It is 14.5% more expensive than the national average.
- What salary do I need to live in San Diego, CA?
- If you earn $100,000 in a US-average city (RPP 100), you would need approximately $114,500 in San Diego, CA to maintain the same purchasing power.
- What is the average rent in San Diego, CA?
- The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in San Diego, CA is approximately $2,833 per month as of FY2024.
- Are people moving to or away from San Diego, CA?
- Based on IRS tax-return migration data for 2021-2022, about 112,882 people moved into the San Diego, CA metro and 139,747 moved out — a net loss of roughly 26,865 residents. The largest single source of new residents was Los Angeles County, CA.
Curated nearby & similar cities
Similar verified metros by RPP
These links are chosen by data proximity: closest overall RPP to San Diego, CA, with HUD 2-BR rent as a tie-breaker.
Curated cost-of-living comparisons for San Diego, CA
Side-by-side cost of living and the equivalent salary you'd need — pick a destination.