Route comparison
Los Angeles, CA vs San Diego, CA: Cost of Living
Compare the cost of living between Los Angeles, CA and San Diego, CA. See the equivalent salary and median rent powered by BLS Regional Price Parities.
Los Angeles, CA
CA
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 113.1
- Housing RPP
- 177
- Goods RPP
- 106.3
- 2-BR median rent
- $2,544/mo
California income tax 1%-13.3%. No city income tax.
San Diego, CA
CA
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 114.5
- Housing RPP
- 183.9
- Goods RPP
- 108.2
- 2-BR median rent
- $2,833/mo
California income tax 1%-13.3%. No city income tax.
Equivalent salary
San Diego, CA is more expensive than Los Angeles, CA by about 1.2% (RPP 113.1 to 114.5).
$60,000 in Los Angeles, CA
-> $60,743
in San Diego, CA
$100,000 in Los Angeles, CA
-> $101,238
in San Diego, CA
$150,000 in Los Angeles, CA
-> $151,857
in San Diego, CA
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.
Migration signal: Los Angeles, CA vs San Diego, CA
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Los Angeles, CA
- Net people
- −147,289
- Net rank
- #64 of 65
- Top origin share
- 9%
- Top destination share
- 11%
Largest source: San Bernardino County, CA. Largest destination: San Bernardino County, CA.
San Diego, CA
- Net people
- −26,865
- Net rank
- #57 of 65
- Top origin share
- 9%
- Top destination share
- 11%
Largest source: Los Angeles County, CA. Largest destination: Riverside County, CA.
Rent delta: San Diego, CA is $289/mo higher for HUD FY2024 2-BR FMR than Los Angeles, CA. Housing RPP moves from 177 to 183.9.
Migration figures are derived from IRS SOI county-to-county migration data for 2021-2022, mapped to metros via Census CBSA delineation. Small county-to-county flows are IRS-suppressed, so per-metro totals are lower bounds. Source: IRS SOI migration data.
Frequently asked questions
- Is San Diego, CA cheaper or more expensive than Los Angeles, CA?
- San Diego, CA (RPP 114.5) is more expensive than Los Angeles, CA (RPP 113.1) by about 1.2%.
- What salary do I need in San Diego, CA if I earn $100,000 in Los Angeles, CA?
- You would need approximately $101,238 in San Diego, CA to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Los Angeles, CA. Formula: $100,000 x (114.5 / 113.1).
- Which metro had stronger net migration, Los Angeles, CA or San Diego, CA?
- For 2021-2022, Los Angeles, CA had a net loss of 147,289 people, while San Diego, CA had a net loss of 26,865 people. IRS small-flow suppression means these are lower-bound research signals, not complete population-change totals.