City comparison
New York vs San Diego Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between New York (166.9) and San Diego (141.4).
New York Index
166.9
San Diego Index
141.4
New York Rent
$4,850
San Diego Rent
$3,700
New York Home price
$787,000
San Diego Home price
$738,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in New York to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in San Diego.
Equivalent salary in San Diego
$121,152
Based on the relative overall cost of living between New York and San Diego.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | New York | San Diego | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 245 | 194 | -51.0 (-20.8%) |
| Groceries | 138 | 122 | -16.0 (-11.6%) |
| Transportation | 121 | 109 | -12.0 (-9.9%) |
| Healthcare | 117 | 110 | -7.0 (-6.0%) |
| Utilities | 112 | 108 | -4.0 (-3.6%) |
| Miscellaneous | 134 | 118 | -16.0 (-11.9%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$8,110 / $6,650
New York / San Diego
Couple
$13,620 / $11,040
New York / San Diego
Family
$19,870 / $15,560
New York / San Diego
Frequently Asked Questions
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View New York city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for New York.
View San Diego city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for San Diego.
Last updated: Q1 2026
Data as of Q1 2026. Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, HUD Fair Market Rents.
Cost of living indexes use the national average as baseline (100). Data is updated periodically.