Cost of Living in San Diego, CA
Cost of Living in San Diego, CA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
---|---|---|
Housing (Buy and Rent) | 11% higher | 118% higher |
Utilities (Monthly) | 4% lower | 23% higher |
Food | 1% higher | 13% higher |
Healthcare | 2% lower | 9% higher |
Transportation | 1% higher | 38% higher |
Goods & Services | 0% | 12% higher |
The cost of living in San Diego, CA is 4% higher than the state average and 45% higher than the national average. San Diego, CA housing is 118% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 23% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 12% more in San Diego, CA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 12% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 9% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 12% pricier in San Diego, CA.
Housing (Buy and Rent)
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in San Diego is $2,756, while home prices circle around $843,685.
Utilities (Monthly)
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In San Diego, energy bills cost around $243.69 per month.
Food
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $2.22 in San Diego, a dozen eggs go for around $2.96 and a pound of potatoes circles around $2.99.
Healthcare
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In San Diego, an optometry check-up costs around $122.11, while a dentist appointment is priced $109.29 on average.
Transportation
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.49 in San Diego, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $55.83.
Goods & Services
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $30.01 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $36.91.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in San Diego, you should budget around $14.74 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $23.56, while dry cleaning costs about $14.90.
Income
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In San Diego, the median household income is $83,454.