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) | 5% lower | 108% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 14% higher | 50% higher |
| Food | 3% higher | 13% higher |
| Healthcare | 12% lower | 3% higher |
| Transportation | 6% higher | 43% higher |
| Goods & Services | 12% higher | 15% higher |
The cost of living in San Diego, CA is 2% higher than the state average and 47% higher than the national average. San Diego, CA housing is 108% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 50% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 13% pricier in San Diego, CA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 15% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 3% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 15% pricier in San Diego, CA.
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 $3,028, while home prices circle around $1,140,822.
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 $413.83 per month.
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 $5.20 in San Diego, a dozen eggs go for around $3.76 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.61.
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 $177.56, while a dentist appointment is priced $122.02 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $4.54 in San Diego, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $81.15.
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 $38.50 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $34.78.
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 $18.07 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $29.56, while dry cleaning costs about $21.89.
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 $108,077.