San Francisco, CA vs San Diego, CA: Cost of Living Comparison
Updated November 2026
San Diego is the cheaper place to live: overall prices in San Francisco are 3.7% higher, and other services prices differ the most (106.2 in San Francisco vs 99.6 in San Diego). A single adult's modelled budget is $4,378 a month in San Francisco and $3,833 in San Diego.
Side-by-side figures
| Measure | San Francisco, CA | San Diego, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Local cost index (CostLiving estimate) | 122.3 | 117.9 |
| BEA index for the area | 115.6 | 111.9 |
| Housing (rents) | 188.6 | 182.1 |
| Goods | 108.5 | 108.0 |
| Utilities | 172.6 | 174.2 |
| Other services | 106.2 | 99.6 |
| Monthly budget, single adult | $4,378 | $3,833 |
| Monthly budget, couple | $6,778 | $6,000 |
| Monthly budget, family of 4 | $8,059 | $7,416 |
| Median gross rent | $2,476 | $2,313 |
| 1-bedroom rent | $2,455 | $1,963 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $3,124 | $2,442 |
| 3-bedroom rent | $3,469 | $2,948 |
| Median home value | $1,394,500 | $906,700 |
| Median household income | $140,970 | $108,077 |
| Rent as % of renter income | 25.1% | 32.4% |
| Home value ÷ income | 9.9× | 8.4× |
| Electricity (state, ¢/kWh) | 29.75 | 29.75 |
| Regular gasoline ($/gal) | $5.75 | $5.75 |
| Population | 830,235 | 1,389,526 |
* fallback value (see notes) · † regional gasoline figure. Local index: CostLiving estimate from BEA RPP 2024 and ACS rents; housing and income: Census ACS 2020-2024; electricity: EIA August 2026; gasoline: EIA week of 2026-11-02.
Prices by category
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco price index by category, US average = 100: All items 122.3, Housing (rents) 188.6, Goods 108.5, Utilities 172.6, Other services 106.2
San Diego, CA
San Diego price index by category, US average = 100: All items 117.9, Housing (rents) 182.1, Goods 108.0, Utilities 174.2, Other services 99.6
Monthly budget, family of 4
| Category | San Francisco | San Diego | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $3,305 | $2,764 | −$541 |
| Utilities | $756 | $761 | +$5 |
| Food at home | $806 | $802 | −$4 |
| Transportation | $2,089 | $2,034 | −$55 |
| Health care | $645 | $605 | −$40 |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $458 | $450 | −$8 |
| Total | $8,059 | $7,416 | −$643 |
Modelled estimate, excluding taxes and child care. How it is calculated.
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Frequently asked questions
Is San Diego more expensive than San Francisco?
No. Overall prices in San Diego, CA (index 117.9) are 3.6% lower than in San Francisco, CA (index 122.3), based on our local cost index (BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 adjusted for local rents). The biggest gap is in other services: 99.6 vs 106.2.
What salary do I need in San Diego to match $60,000 in San Francisco?
About $57,800. Going the other way, $60,000 in San Diego buys about as much as $62,200 in San Francisco. Taxes are not included.
Is rent cheaper in San Francisco or San Diego?
Median gross rent is $2,476 in San Francisco and $2,313 in San Diego (−6.6% in San Diego; Census ACS 2020-2024). Median home values are $1,394,500 and $906,700.
Notes
Not financial advice. Methodology · Sources