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
87/ 10013% cheaper than New York
-7% rent since Jul 2026
$4,700/mo
Median Income
70/100
Safety
24%
Income Tax
Mediterranean
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

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

Housing
85/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$2,195/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$1,850/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$5,258/month
Food & Groceries
65/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.3/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$3.5/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$2.5/kg
Transportation
60/100
Monthly Transit Pass$72/month
One-Way Ticket$3/trip
Taxi (1 km)$2.2/km
Utilities
58/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$250/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$65/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$55/month
Healthcare
70/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$150/visit
Dentist Visit$119/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$25/course
Education
68/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$1,200/month
International Primary School (yearly)$18,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$800/course
Entertainment
68/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$14/ticket
Theater Ticket$60/ticket
Museum Entry$20/ticket
Clothing
70/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$80/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$50/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$110/pair
Personal Care
65/100
Haircut (Men)$30/cut
Haircut (Women)$60/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$7/bottle
Dining Out
70/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$18/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$80/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$12/meal
Childcare
72/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$1,600/month
Babysitter (per hour)$22/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$30/pack
Fitness & Sports
65/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$65/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$30/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$12/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

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

Best neighborhoods: Little Italy, Gaslamp Quarter, North Park

Frequently Asked Questions

Is San Diego cheap to live in?

San Diego has a cost of living index of 87/100, where New York = 100. It is 13% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $3,100–$4,340 per month.

How much does rent cost in San Diego?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of San Diego costs approximately $2,195/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $1,850/month.

Is San Diego good for digital nomads?

San Diego has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 95 Mbps, café wifi reliability is excellent, 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 $4,700 USD. The income tax rate is around 24%.

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

San Diego (cost index 87) is 13% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $325/month by moving from New York to San Diego.

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