Cost of Living

San Diego, United States

Live cost-of-living data for San Diego — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
89/ 10011% cheaper than New York
+15% rent since Jul 2026
$4,800/mo
Median Income
68/100
Safety
9.3%
Income Tax
Mediterranean
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
82/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$2,700/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$1,800/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$4,200/month
Food & Groceries
58/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.25/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$3/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$2.2/kg
Transportation
65/100
Monthly Transit Pass$72/month
One-Way Ticket$3/trip
Taxi (1 km)$2/km
Utilities
55/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$210/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$60/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$45/month
Healthcare
68/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$150/visit
Dentist Visit$180/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$25/course
Education
65/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$1,200/month
International Primary School (yearly)$18,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$600/course
Entertainment
62/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$14/ticket
Theater Ticket$55/ticket
Museum Entry$18/ticket
Clothing
68/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$80/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$50/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$110/pair
Personal Care
60/100
Haircut (Men)$28/cut
Haircut (Women)$55/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$6.5/bottle
Dining Out
62/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$18/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$75/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$11/meal
Childcare
72/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$1,600/month
Babysitter (per hour)$20/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$30/pack
Fitness & Sports
60/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$65/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$28/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$10/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

215 Mbps
Internet Speed
$250
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
high
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
53/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: North Park, Little Italy, Gaslamp Quarter

Frequently Asked Questions

Is San Diego cheap to live in?

San Diego has a cost of living index of 89/100, where New York = 100. It is 11% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $3,200–$4,480 per month.

How much does rent cost in San Diego?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of San Diego costs approximately $2,700/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $1,800/month.

Is San Diego good for digital nomads?

San Diego has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 215 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $250/month. English proficiency is high.

What is the average salary in San Diego?

The median net monthly salary in San Diego is approximately $4,800 USD. The income tax rate is around 9.3%.

How does San Diego compare to New York for cost of living?

San Diego (cost index 89) is 11% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $275/month by moving from New York to San Diego.

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