San Diego, California has an overall cost of living index of 110.7, which is 10.7 points above the US average of 100 — making it pricier than most American cities. Renters pay a median of $2,313 per month, while the typical home is valued around $906,700. Households earn a median of $108,077 per year, leaving rent at a manageable share of income for many residents. Air quality is moderate, with an average AQI of 59. Below: housing costs, local wages by occupation, neighborhoods, climate, jobs and major industries, and healthcare access — all drawn from US Census, BEA, BLS, HUD, EPA, and NOAA data.
$108,077
Median Income / yr
Census ACS
$2,313
Median Rent / mo
Census ACS
$906,700
Median Home Value
Census ACS
110.7
Cost of Living Index
Studio FMR
$2,288
HUD · FY2024
1BR Fair Market Rent
$2,459
HUD · FY2024
2BR Fair Market Rent
$3,001
HUD · FY2024
3BR Fair Market Rent
$3,998
HUD · FY2024
Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile of gross rents in the metro area · HUD FY2024
Each category indexed to the US average of 100. Below 100 = cheaper than average.
Overall
110.7
Goods
102.2
Rents / Housing
185.8
Services
158.3
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro-level)
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $157,860 |
| Registered Nurse | $139,350 |
| Elementary Teacher | $86,960 |
| Electrician | $82,400 |
| Accountant | $104,740 |
| Plumber | $74,940 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $277,840 |
| Civil Engineer | $116,680 |
| Operations Manager | N/A |
| Market Research Analyst | $94,230 |
| Health Services Manager | $169,580 |
| Truck Driver | $59,040 |
| Physician Assistant | N/A |
| Surgeon | N/A |
| Data Scientist | N/A |
| Computer Engineer | $173,930 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
Population
1,389,526
Latest estimate
Median Age
36.2 yrs
Census ACS
59.0
Moderate0 = clean · 50 = moderate boundary · lower is better
Source: EPA AirNow
Total Neighborhoods
60
Tracked in our database
Avg Walk Score
N/A
0–100 scale
Avg Median Rent
$2,193
Per month
Avg Home Value
$886,259
Census ACS
| Neighborhood | Walk Score | Median Rent | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 91902 | — | $2,043 | $843,400 |
| ZIP 91911 | — | $1,875 | $574,200 |
| ZIP 91915 | — | $2,788 | $692,300 |
| ZIP 91932 | — | $1,841 | $744,100 |
| ZIP 91942 | — | $1,809 | $645,500 |
| ZIP 91945 | — | $1,693 | $593,300 |
| ZIP 91950 | — | $1,486 | $504,300 |
| ZIP 92014 | — | $3,087 | $2,000,001 |
| ZIP 92025 | — | $1,700 | $705,700 |
| ZIP 92027 | — | $1,844 | $609,400 |
Showing top 10 of 60 tracked neighborhoods.
January Avg
57°F
July Avg
72°F
Sunny Days / Year
—
Annual Snowfall
—
Climate category: Dry/Arid · Source: NOAA/NCEI 30-year normals.
Healthcare Score
32.0
poor
Hospitals
9
Doctors per 1,000
1.00
Insurance Coverage
94.2%
San Diego has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 110.7. The US national average is 100, so San Diego is 10.7 points above the national average.
The median gross rent in San Diego is $2,313 per month according to US Census ACS data.
The median household income in San Diego is $108,077 per year.
The median home value in San Diego is $906,700 based on the latest Census ACS survey.
San Diego has an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 59.0, which is rated "Moderate" by the EPA. Lower AQI values indicate cleaner air.
Tax data for California is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
