City comparison
San Francisco vs San Diego Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between San Francisco (177.2) and San Diego (141.4).
San Francisco Index
177.2
San Diego Index
141.4
San Francisco Rent
$5,250
San Diego Rent
$3,700
San Francisco Home price
$935,000
San Diego Home price
$738,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in San Francisco to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in San Diego.
Equivalent salary in San Diego
$119,695
Based on the relative overall cost of living between San Francisco 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 | San Francisco | San Diego | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 276 | 194 | -82.0 (-29.7%) |
| Groceries | 137 | 122 | -15.0 (-10.9%) |
| Transportation | 125 | 109 | -16.0 (-12.8%) |
| Healthcare | 114 | 110 | -4.0 (-3.5%) |
| Utilities | 112 | 108 | -4.0 (-3.6%) |
| Miscellaneous | 132 | 118 | -14.0 (-10.6%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$8,510 / $6,650
San Francisco / San Diego
Couple
$14,470 / $11,040
San Francisco / San Diego
Family
$21,280 / $15,560
San Francisco / San Diego
Frequently Asked Questions
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View San Francisco city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for San Francisco.
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.