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.

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

Lebenshaltungskosten in San Diego

37.4% über dem United States-Durchschnitt

Platz #10 von 577 Städten · Teurer als 98.3% der Städte weltweit

+37.4%

Lebenshaltungskosten

+73.8%

Miete

+6.9%

Lebensmittel

-17.8%

Kaufkraft

Vergleich zum United States-Durchschnitt · United States-Ranking ansehen →

Mietpreise in San Diego

Wohnung	Stadtzentrum	Außerhalb des Zentrums	Du sparst
1-Zimmer	USD 3,345/mo	USD 2,383/mo	29%
3-Zimmer	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

Kostenindizes

Lebenshaltungskosten

+37.4% Very expensive

Miete

+73.8% Very expensive

Lebensmittel

+6.9% Average

Restaurants

+18.2% Expensive

Kaufkraft

-17.8% Weak

Leben in San Diego: Was dich erwartet

San Diego ist very expensive nach globalen Maßstäben (Platz #10 von 577 Städten). 37.4% teurer als der United States-Durchschnitt, basierend auf 82 Städten.

Lebensmittel sind average, während Essen gehen expensive ist. Groceries bietet das beste Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis, während Rent am teuersten ist.

Lebenshaltungskosten in San Diego

Mietpreise in San Diego

Prices of Goods & Services in San Diego

Groceries

Restaurants

Clothing & Shoes

Leisure

Transportation

Utilities

Multi-Source Comparison

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Kostenindizes

Leben in San Diego: Was dich erwartet

Wie schneidet San Diego ab?

Planst du einen Umzug nach San Diego?