Cost of living in San Diego
compared to
#18
City Cost of Living Rank
Index: 82 (New York City = 100)
Cost of living in San Diego vs. United States overall average
San Diego is 25.0% more expensive than United States overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 21.6% more in San Diego
- Groceries
-
pay 7.9% more in San Diego
- Transportation
-
pay 14.4% more in San Diego
- Housing
-
pay 54.5% more in San Diego
- Childcare
-
pay 25.0% more in San Diego
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 28.7% more in San Diego
- Clothing
-
pay 23.0% more in San Diego
The cost of housing, entertainment and sports, childcare, clothing, restaurants, and transportation in San Diego are more expensive than in United States.
San Diego Cost of Living Breakdown
Restaurants
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant | $21.00 |
$15.00
$15.00
$35.00
$35.00
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$15.00 |
$12.00
$12.00
$18.00
$18.00
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) | $3.03 |
$2.39
$2.39
$4.00
$4.00
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) | $2.50 |
$2.00
$2.00
$4.00
$4.00
|
San Diego - Cost of restaurants
Groceries
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$4.57 |
$3.30
$3.30
$6.61
$6.61
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) | $7.36 |
$4.41
$4.41
$13.23
$13.23
|
| Milk (1 gallon) | $4.78 |
$3.69
$3.69
$6.00
$6.00
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$5.84 |
$3.60
$3.60
$8.00
$8.00
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) | $6.07 |
$3.00
$3.00
$9.99
$9.99
|
| Apples (1 lb) | $2.22 |
$1.00
$1.00
$3.89
$3.89
|
| Bananas (1 lb) | $0.78 |
$0.66
$0.66
$1.50
$1.50
|
| Oranges (1 lb) | $1.91 |
$1.00
$1.00
$3.50
$3.50
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | $2.26 |
$1.00
$1.00
$3.00
$3.00
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) | $1.42 |
$0.78
$0.78
$3.00
$3.00
|
| Onions (1 lb) | $1.12 |
$0.90
$0.90
$1.99
$1.99
|
San Diego - Cost of groceries
Transportation
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) | $4.76 |
$4.35
$4.35
$5.65
$5.65
|
| Monthly public transit pass | $72.00 |
$60.00
$60.00
$100.00
$100.00
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) | $31,965.00 |
$25,000.00
$25K
$36,753.89
$37K
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) | $19.40 |
$19.40
$19.40
$33.63
$33.63
|
San Diego - Cost of transportation
Housing
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$82.19 |
$60.00
$60.00
$120.00
$120.00
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area | $3,033.00 |
$2,500.00
$2K
$4,000.00
$4K
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center | $2,538.64 |
$2,000.00
$2K
$3,460.00
$3K
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$205.84 |
$141.47
$141.47
$349.83
$349.83
|
San Diego - Cost of housing
Childcare
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly | $1,750.00 |
$1,450.00
$1K
$3,000.00
$3K
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters | $28,750.00 |
$18,000.00
$18K
$50,000.00
$50K
|
San Diego - Cost of childcare
Entertainment and Sports
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) | $8.00 |
$6.00
$6.00
$12.00
$12.00
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area | $5.90 |
$4.00
$4.00
$8.00
$8.00
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$12.00 |
$10.00
$10.00
$13.00
$13.00
|
| Monthly membership at local gym | $73.21 |
$30.00
$30.00
$179.00
$179.00
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema | $17.50 |
$15.00
$15.00
$20.00
$20.00
|
San Diego - Cost of entertainment and sports
Clothing
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$60.72 |
$40.00
$40.00
$100.00
$100.00
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$58.44 |
$42.00
$42.00
$90.00
$90.00
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$105.68 |
$79.00
$79.00
$130.00
$130.00
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) | $126.25 |
$75.00
$75.00
$200.00
$200.00
|
San Diego - Cost of clothing
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