What is the average rent in San Diego?

A 1-bedroom apartment in San Diego city centre costs approximately USD 3,345 per month. Outside the centre, rent drops to USD 2,383 (saving 29%). A 3-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around USD 5,488.

Is San Diego affordable to live in?

San Diego is very expensive by global standards. Groceries are average, restaurants are expensive, and local purchasing power is weak.

🇺🇸 CA, United States · 2026

Cost of Living in San Diego

Q: How expensive is San Diego compared to the rest of United States?

San Diego ranks #10 out of 577 cities globally. It is 37.4% more expensive than the United States average, based on 82 cities. The rent index is 71.8 and local purchasing power is 118.5.

37.4% above the United States average

Ranked #10 of 577 cities · More expensive than 98.3% of cities worldwide

+37.4%

Cost of Living

+73.8%

Rent

+6.9%

Groceries

-17.8%

Purchasing Power

Compared to United States average · See United States ranking →

Rent Prices in San Diego

Apartment	City Centre	Outside Centre	You Save
1-Bedroom	USD 3,345/mo	USD 2,383/mo	29%
3-Bedroom	USD 5,488/mo	USD 4,420/mo	20%

Numbeo · 2026-10-02

Prices of Goods & Services in San Diego

Groceries

Item	Price	Sources
Apples (1kg)	$4.26	2 sources
Beer (0.5L, supermarket)	$3.24	2 sources
Bread (500g)	$3.59	2 sources
Local cheese (1kg)	$16.08	2 sources
Chicken (1kg)	$13.62	2 sources
Cigarettes (Marlboro)	$12.36	2 sources
Eggs (12)	$6.40	2 sources
Milk (1L)	$1.30	2 sources
Potatoes (1kg)	$2.49	2 sources
Tomatoes (1kg)	$4.83	2 sources
Water (1.5L)	$2.39	1 source
Wine (mid-range)	$17.50	2 sources

Apples (1kg)

$4.26

Beer (0.5L, supermarket)

$3.24

Bread (500g)

$3.59

Local cheese (1kg)

$16.08

Chicken (1kg)

$13.62

Cigarettes (Marlboro)

$12.36

Eggs (12)

$6.40

Milk (1L)

$1.30

Potatoes (1kg)

$2.49

Tomatoes (1kg)

$4.83

Water (1.5L)

$2.39

Wine (mid-range)

$17.50

Restaurants

Item	Price	Sources
Draft beer (0.5L)	$8.50	2 sources
Cappuccino	$6.44	2 sources
McMeal	$15.00	2 sources
Cheap meal	$23.75	2 sources
Mid-range dinner (2 people)	$89.50	2 sources

Draft beer (0.5L)

$8.50

Cappuccino

$6.44

McMeal

$15.00

Cheap meal

$23.75

Mid-range dinner (2 people)

$89.50

Clothing & Shoes

Item	Price	Sources
Business shoes (leather)	$141.61	2 sources
Jeans (Levi's 501)	$62.20	2 sources
Sport shoes (Nike)	$109.06	2 sources
Summer dress (Zara/H&M)	$53.14	2 sources

Business shoes (leather)

$141.61

Jeans (Levi's 501)

$62.20

Sport shoes (Nike)

$109.06

Summer dress (Zara/H&M)

$53.14

Leisure

Item	Price	Sources
Cinema ticket	$17.00	2 sources
Gym membership	$89.73	2 sources

Cinema ticket

$17.00

Gym membership

$89.73

Transportation

Item	Price	Sources
Gasoline (1L)	$1.22	2 sources
Taxi start	$3.00	1 source
Monthly pass	$72.00	2 sources

Gasoline (1L)

$1.22

Taxi start

$3.00

Monthly pass

$72.00

Utilities

Item	Price	Sources
Basic utilities (85m²)	$276.82	2 sources

Basic utilities (85m²)

$276.82

Prices in local currency, cross-referenced from multiple independent sources. October 2026.

Multi-Source Comparison

★★★ High Confidence

San Diego has a cost of living index of 79.3 (New York = 100, rent included), the average of 4 of 4 data sources.

79.3

Index

Sources

11.4

Gap between sources

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Numbeo

79.4

Expatistan

72.0

LivingCost

82.5

ShouldIMove price index

83.4

ShouldIMove price index: our own basket of real item prices plus rent.

Eurostat Validation (EU27 = 100) Gov. Data

Eurostat

124.2

Based on 108 country PLI x 1.15 city factor

View all 577 cities | Data last updated: 2026-03-18

Cost Indices

Cost of Living

+37.4% Very expensive

Rent

+73.8% Very expensive

Groceries

+6.9% Average

Restaurants

+18.2% Expensive

Purchasing Power

-17.8% Weak

Living in San Diego: What to Expect

San Diego is very expensive by global standards (ranked #10 of 577 cities). It is 37.4% more expensive than the United States average, based on 82 cities.

Groceries are average and dining out is expensive. The best value is groceries and the priciest is rent.

Cost of Living in San Diego

Rent Prices in San Diego

Prices of Goods & Services in San Diego

Groceries

Restaurants

Clothing & Shoes

Leisure

Transportation

Utilities

Multi-Source Comparison

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Cost Indices

Living in San Diego: What to Expect

How Does San Diego Compare?

Planning a Move to San Diego?