City comparison
San Diego vs New York Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between San Diego (141.4) and New York (166.9).
San Diego Index
141.4
New York Index
166.9
San Diego Rent
$3,700
New York Rent
$4,850
San Diego Home price
$738,000
New York Home price
$787,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in San Diego to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in New York.
Equivalent salary in New York
$138,100
Based on the relative overall cost of living between San Diego and New York.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | San Diego | New York | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 194 | 245 | +51.0 (+26.3%) |
| Groceries | 122 | 138 | +16.0 (+13.1%) |
| Transportation | 109 | 121 | +12.0 (+11.0%) |
| Healthcare | 110 | 117 | +7.0 (+6.4%) |
| Utilities | 108 | 112 | +4.0 (+3.7%) |
| Miscellaneous | 118 | 134 | +16.0 (+13.6%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$6,650 / $8,110
San Diego / New York
Couple
$11,040 / $13,620
San Diego / New York
Family
$15,560 / $19,870
San Diego / New York
Frequently Asked Questions
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View San Diego city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for San Diego.
View New York city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for New York.
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.