Route comparison
Phoenix, AZ vs San Diego, CA: Cost of Living
Compare the cost of living between Phoenix, AZ and San Diego, CA. See the equivalent salary and median rent powered by BLS Regional Price Parities.
Phoenix, AZ
AZ
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 103.7
- Housing RPP
- 122.9
- Goods RPP
- 98.3
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,877/mo
Arizona income tax 2.5% flat rate (since 2023). 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 Phoenix, AZ by about 10.4% (RPP 103.7 to 114.5).
$60,000 in Phoenix, AZ
-> $66,249
in San Diego, CA
$100,000 in Phoenix, AZ
-> $110,415
in San Diego, CA
$150,000 in Phoenix, AZ
-> $165,622
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: Phoenix, AZ vs San Diego, CA
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Phoenix, AZ
- Net people
- +20,892
- Net rank
- #8 of 65
- Top origin share
- 4%
- Top destination share
- 3%
Largest source: Los Angeles County, CA. Largest destination: Pima County, AZ.
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 $956/mo higher for HUD FY2024 2-BR FMR than Phoenix, AZ. Housing RPP moves from 122.9 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 Phoenix, AZ?
- San Diego, CA (RPP 114.5) is more expensive than Phoenix, AZ (RPP 103.7) by about 10.4%.
- What salary do I need in San Diego, CA if I earn $100,000 in Phoenix, AZ?
- You would need approximately $110,415 in San Diego, CA to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Phoenix, AZ. Formula: $100,000 x (114.5 / 103.7).
- Which metro had stronger net migration, Phoenix, AZ or San Diego, CA?
- For 2021-2022, Phoenix, AZ had a net gain of 20,892 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.