Median rent is 61% lower in Toledo ($901/mo vs $2,313/mo). Buying is cheaper in Toledo, where the median home runs $114,500 versus $906,700. Households earn more in San Diego ($108,077 vs $49,724 a year).
City A
San Diego, CA
City B
Toledo, OH
How much would you need to earn in Toledo, OH to maintain your standard of living from San Diego, CA?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
San Diego
California
Toledo
Ohio
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Toledo — median rent of $901/mo versus $2,313/mo in San Diego, a 61% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in San Diego: the median home is $906,700 versus $114,500 in Toledo — 87% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
San Diego
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Toledo
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Toledo has cleaner air on average: 32.0 AQI (Good) compared to 59.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick San Diego if you prioritize higher median household income ($108,077/yr).
Pick Toledo if you prioritize cheaper rent ($901/mo median).
Pick Toledo if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 32.0).
Is San Diego cheaper than Toledo?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in San Diego vs Toledo?
Median rent is $2,313/mo in San Diego, CA and $901/mo in Toledo, OH. Toledo, OH has the lower rent by about 61%.
Which has higher salaries — San Diego or Toledo?
Median household income is $108,077 in San Diego, CA and $49,724 in Toledo, OH. San Diego, CA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Toledo, OH has better air quality on average: 32.0 AQI versus 59.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — San Diego or Toledo?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Toledo to match my San Diego income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
