Cost of living, San Diego
111.9
BEA Regional Price Parity vs US average of 100 (2024). San Diego sits about 11.9% above national prices.
BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA RPP all-items, 2024. Disclaimer
- vs US
- +11.9%
- Metro
- San Diego
- CBSA
- 41740
San Diego all-items RPP is 111.9 (2024), about 11.9% above US-average prices. A $90,000 salary at national prices maps to about $100,710 here for equal purchasing power.
Price components in San Diego
| Component | San Diego | US |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 111.9 | 100 |
| Goods | 108.0 | 100 |
| Housing (rents) | 179.3 | 100 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 100 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, US = 100.
What a US-average salary buys in San Diego
| At US average | In San Diego |
|---|---|
| $60,000 | $67,140 |
| $90,000 | $100,710 |
| $150,000 | $167,850 |
Local equivalent = national salary × (111.9 ÷ 100). BEA RPP 2024.
Top wages here
FAQ
- What is the cost of living in San Diego?
- The BEA Regional Price Parity (all items, 2024) for San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA is 111.9, versus a US average of 100 (+11.9%).
- How is RPP different from CPI?
- CPI tracks price change over time. RPP compares price levels across places in a given year versus the national average of 100. PayByCity uses RPP for cross-metro purchasing power, including goods, housing rents, and other services components.
- How should I use this with OEWS wages?
- Pair local BLS OEWS medians (May 2025) with this RPP. A $90,000 salary at US-average prices maps to about $100,710 in San Diego for equal purchasing power.
- Does this include taxes or housing alone?
- No. All-items RPP is a broad price-level index. Component indexes show goods, rents, and other services separately, but this is not a rent quote, tax estimate, or household budget.
What this covers
Includes
- BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
- BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
- Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)
Does not include
- Federal, state, or local income taxes
- Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
- Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand
Highest wages here
- Physicians, All Other , 4,200 OEWS emp. $323,050
- Chief Executives , 2,710 OEWS emp. $238,440
- Computer and Information Systems Managers , 7,250 OEWS emp. $206,740
- Architectural and Engineering Managers , 3,270 OEWS emp. $202,810
- Lawyers , 8,020 OEWS emp. $178,220
- Marketing Managers , 3,790 OEWS emp. $174,840
See methodology and disclaimer.