A crowdsourced database with a cost of living calculator for prices comparison in 9294 cities in 197 countries all over the world. This is only $1,900 more per year than the nationwide average of $66,665/year, yet the cost of living in San Diego is 44% higher than the national average. square footage and lot size) with the assistance of an appropriate professional. San Francisco, California is ranked NO. 5 Reasons Why It Won't Crash in2023 | 2024. Installation and purchasing the system is of course expensive, but in the long run, it all but abolishes monthly utility costs. Please consider telling us about your city. This information may be different than what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider or specific products site. You also agree to our, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. It might sound catty, but we sometimes think that San Francisco really wants to be a ghost town. Get free guidance on changes you can make to afford more home, without spending more. Looks like this move could have a negative net change in disposable income. Updated on Apr 2023. . Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. If you are coming from San Francisco, according to our data supplied by Numbeo below, it will seem less expensive to live in Hawaii. San Diego is one of the least affordable areas in the country where housing, gas prices, utilities, and other costs are a concern. San Diego has a sales tax of 7.75%, and San Francisco sales tax is 8.5%. Pre-qualified offers are not binding. That just makes it really costly to live in San Diego, said Dr. NerdWallets cost of living calculator is powered by data from The Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). Childcare can get extremely expensive no matter where you live. Full cost of living comparison of San Francisco, California vs San Diego, California. Theres also maintenance, upgrades, taxes and fees to take into account when deciding where to live. For example, the cost of an unlimited MetroCard in New York was obtained from theMTA website. Whether you use a cost of living index or a cost of living calculator, each will help you feel more confident in deciding where to live. The Bay Area is full of medical campuses, and is home to the well known cradle of tech, Silicon Valley, where youll find giants such as Google, Apple, Facebook and many more. Its also known to be a state with an exorbitant cost of living. JUST UPDATED: 5 Reasons to Move to San Diego in2023 | 2024. from the Council for Community and Economic Research. A low rate can save you hundreds each year. Home prices, property taxes and monthly rents vary from state to state, city to city, town to town and even neighborhood to neighborhood.For homeowners, there are more expenses to consider than just the monthly mortgage payment. Consequently, statistics cited in this article are as of this writing.? - Median Home Cost is 48% more expensive in San Francisco. For over a decade, weve had hardly any new builds, so we just have not had the supply to satisfy the demand.. A cost of living index allows you to directly compare what it costs to live in one area against another, helping you understand how far your money can go in each place. The cost of electricity can have a bigger than average impact of your overall, It is difficult to exactly predict the cost of child care in any city, which for parents, is a large part of the, In San Francisco,CA, the median rent for a 1 bedroom apartment is $2459, and for a 2 bedroom apartment is $3089. Unfortunately, the high prices of homes in San Francisco have spilled over into the . San Diego is where over 1,300,000 people are, which means that about 4,370 people live in each square mile. The average home price in San Diego is a little bit over $800,000, and the average home price in San Francisco is just below $1,500,000. Are you getting ready to go on that house hunting safari in San Diego? We help you develop a house-hunting strategy that stresses affordability and a neighborhood that you will feel comfortable living in. The City by the Bay believes it is better, but we would have to suspend all disbelief to buy that story. If you arent in the market to buy a home, youll still struggle to find affordable housing in San Francisco to rent. Jason Dempsey is the CEO and Co-Founder of Home City Living. A ride onone of them costs $8, and you pay every time you get on one. Plus, who wants to risk getting run over by a cable car anyway?! San Diego is more spacious and has better beach access, while San Francisco is often better for people seeking career advancement. The average salary in San Diego is $68,565/year, which is about $32.96/hour. A cost of living index allows you to directly compare what it costs to live in one area against another, helping you understand how far your money can go in each place. Looking at two cities on opposite ends of the state, with very different landscapes and lifestyles, lets compare the cost of living in San Diego vs. San Francisco. If you compare the average housing price here with the average income, a higher portion of income is required to afford housing here than any other place in the country., San Diegos housing market is quite expensive right now and its still on the increase, said Chris Anderson, board president for the San Diego Association of Realtors. This information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Terms and ConditionsDisclaimerPrivacy PolicySitemap, San Francisco vs San Diego (Cost of Living & Lifestyle Comparison). Employers in San Diego, CA typically pay -14.0% less than employers in San Jose, CA. In fact, San Francisco ranks fifth on the list of most expensive American cities. As the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment in San Francisco is $2,307, your monthly income $7,690 to live comfortably in San Francisco. Its fun to compare hometowns, and people in San Diego dont mind contrasting what Americas Finest City has to offer against any other metropolitan area in the United States. How is this tool different from other resources out there? You may use this information only to identify properties you may be interested in investigating further. San Diego is a great place to fire up a small business or launch a startup company, too. You could eat out less, cut back on takeout and cook more often. - The Median Age is 4.0 years younger in San Diego. In other parts of the country, income is lower, but housing prices are much lower, so they pay a lower portion of their income for housing, said Dr. For others, it involves driving your car, and that means factoring in car repairs, gas, tolls and parking. If they are old enough to understand, include the children in making plans for the move. SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. San Diego is one of the least affordable areas in the country where housing, gas prices, utilities, and other costs are a concern. Traffic and population go hand in hand. Property taxes are about the same in San Francisco and San Diego; however you will see a difference in the sales tax. We lost the San Diego Chargers to someplace else, but the San Francisco 49ers had a better overall record of Super Bowl wins; not even Phil Rivers or LaDamien Tomlinson could change that. Southern California is the land of the best beaches, and San Diego has a claim to some great ones. The cost of living in San Diego, CA is -19.7% lower than in San Jose, CA. A comparison between San Diego and San Francisco is pretty stark. San Diego, California's cost of living is 44% higher than the national average. A trolley car ride in Frisco is$2.25 per ride. You can save some expense by packing boxes yourself, renting a U-Haul truck, and asking friends and family to help with the loading and unloading. 2023 Compare Cities Cost of Living: San Diego, CA vs San Francisco, CA Change Cities Highlights San Francisco is 52.1% more expensive than San Diego. The expenses that factor into cost of living can include housing affordability, transportation expenses, food prices and entertainment costs. By proceeding, you consent to receive calls and texts at the number you provided, including marketing by auto-dialer, pre-recorded voicemail, and email, from this site's operators about real estate related matters, but not as a condition of purchase. TOP POST: Zillow San Diego: 5 Lies, Fraudulent and Deceitful Tactics Used in2023 | 2024. For every square mile, there are around 18,000 people living in such a tight space. California already imparts a 7.25% sales tax anywhere in the state. READ: San Diego vs Orange County: Which Socal City is Best in 2023 | 2024? You could eat out less, cut back on takeout and cook more often. According to the BLS, transportation is the second-largest expense consumers have.For some, these costs include taking public transportation. The citys key industries include financial services, tourism, and technology. We all know that San Diego gets better and better as every day passes, and it isnt easy to keep up with all the success. Here is a list of our partners. The cost of living in San Fran can be quite high, but thats only due to its booming economy and variety of job opportunities.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[120,600],'homecityliving_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_15',109,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-homecityliving_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[120,600],'homecityliving_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_16',109,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-homecityliving_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0_1');.mobile-leaderboard-1-multi-109{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:600px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. Cost of living is the amount of money you need to sustain a certain lifestyle in a given place. The median age in San Diego is 33.9, and in San Francisco, it is 38.6. According to the latest BLS data, consumers average over $7,000 per year on food expenses. Education data was provided courtesy ofGreatschools, a nationwide ratings system that evaluates schools based on performance on state achievement tests. Private school data was obtained from the Department of Education, and average private tuition was compiled by averaging tuition across randomly selected schools in each city. Even with all these job opportunities and these higher annual salaries, when added up, it still costs less to live in San Diego than San Francisco. NerdWallet excluded state and local tax data because tax rates vary by state and metropolitan area, and sometimes within metropolitan area as well. Do you own a home in San Diego and want a fast, free, and automated home valuation in 30 seconds or less? Walkability and public transit scores were obtained from, Monthly bus pass costs were obtained from the individual websites of the public transit system for each city. All financial products, shopping products and services are presented without warranty. How much money do you need to buy a home in San Diego, CA? The weather during January averages about 55 to 65. Big Deal. Here's how to know how much you really need. You also agree to our Terms of Service, and to our Privacy Policy regarding the information relating to you. This consent applies even if you are on a corporate, state or national Do Not Call list. When evaluating offers, please review the financial institutions Terms and Conditions. With the above facts in mind then, its safe to determine that San Diego would be a better place for people who like wide, open spaces and the metropolitan feel. Required fields are marked *. Before you get the keys to your new home, you'll have to pay closing costs. The cost of a bus ride on an MTS bus for Adult/Youth is $2.50. San Francisco has a higher cost of living than San Diego. San Diego, on the other hand, due to its military influence, derives its money from other sectors, such as defense, tourism, and international trade. We would welcome the opportunity to be your guide. Mission Beach, La Jolla Shores Beach, and Coronado Beach are fabulous! The average grocery bill in San Diego is a little over $300, and in San Francisco, youre looking at a bill of about $423. We happen to have a great beach town named Ocean Beach, and it has more to offer than sand! This makes utilities another sector of our cost of living comparison which seems to be rather similar in cost. Theaverage home pricein San Diego is a little bit over $800,000, and the average home price in San Francisco is just below $1,500,000. This element is especially important for those of you with children whom you want to enroll in a great, educating environment that you can trust. Above 100 means more expensive.) Learn More: 11 Reasons to move to San Diego. Cost of Living in San Rafael, California: 18.32 miles: Cost of Living in San Mateo, California: 21.47 miles: Cost of Living in Belmont, California: 24.19 miles: Cost of Living in Walnut Creek, California: 24.48 miles: Cost of Living in Redwood City, California: 26.16 miles: Cost of Living in Hayward, California: 26.70 miles This not only means less options, but small airports are notoriously expensive. Core cost of living data is fromThe Cost of Living Index - COLIfrom the Council for Community and Economic Research. A five dollar difference isnt huge, but its hard to judge an actual median price on dining out because theres so many types of dining establishments and some are more expensive than others. Add to that our high housing costs, and now youve got the electricity and high gas on top of that, its really tough for people, particularly at the low end of the income distribution to keep up with those rising costs.. Property taxes are about the same in San Francisco and San Diego; however you will see a difference in the sales tax. Getting to work is important. For example, the cost of living in San Francisco is twice that of Boise, Idaho. The phrase let the buyer beware is very good advice no matter which town you decide to go house hunting. If you find discrepancies with your credit score or information from your credit report, please contact TransUnion directly. A final slam we would like to point out is that San Francisco may think it is hipper and more exciting, but San Diego is more youthful and vibrant. On the other hand, San Diego is located near the Mexican border and its size is an impressive 325.9 square miles. There are fewer airlines and less flights to choose from throughout the day. San Diego Zoo isranked #2in the Best Zoos in the US to Visit in 2021. Our partners compensate us. Anyone who is looking to buy a house must view the transaction as a major financial investment. Quality of life data (gyms, bars and beauty salons per 1,000 residents) were collected from the Yellow Pages. As a result, youll find that traffic congestion is more likely to happen in San Fran than they would in San Diego. You can pick and choose the best gym for you, some are more barebones, some are almost spa-like. Proximity to employment is an important consideration because it can drastically impact your cost of living. VISIT: 7 Best Places to Live in San Diego for Millennials in2023 | 2024. We have been in the real estate market here in San Diego for years, and we know the metropolitan area from Oceanside to Imperial Beach. We must be fair when comparing the two cities. Its wildly expensive to rent or own in San Francisco, with the median home price being around $1,405,000 (according to Zillow.) Overall, wed have to say in the ongoing SoCal vs. NorCal face off, SoCal wins when it comes to cost of living. Items on which the index is based have been carefully chosen to reflect the different categories of consumer expenditures., C2ER was founded in 1961, and continues to exist today as a nonprofit organization, comprising research staff of chambers of commerce, economic development organizations and agencies, and related organizations throughout the United States. C2ER has published its quarterly Cost of Living Index since 1968. Related Article: Seattle vs. Philadelphia. How Much Down Payment Do You Need to Buy a Home. The average salary in San Diego is$68,565/year, which is about $32.96/hour. According to the council, C2ER produces the Cost of Living Index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences among urban areas. Weve already mentioned housing, but looking at the cost one more time, you discover that San Francisco housing costs are 113.6% more than you will pay in San Diego. Proximity to employment is an important consideration because it can drastically impact your cost of living. The city does have the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), and getting around without acar is possible. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Walkability and public transit scores were obtained fromWalk Score. You should rely on this information only to decide whether or not to further investigate a particular property. Related Article: San Francisco vs. Chicago. When evaluating offers, please review the financial institutions Terms and Conditions. San Diego, CA area prices were up 2.6% from a year ago. Pre-qualified offers are not binding. , a nationwide ratings system that evaluates schools based on performance on state achievement tests. And it adds up. That translates to an annual pre-tax income of $92,280. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. San Francisco's high cost of living, which is more than 84% higher than the national average, starts with sky-high housing prices. READ: San Diego vs. San Jose: Which California City is Best in 2023 | 2024? You could eat out less, cut back on takeout and cook more often. The time you spend commuting is time you do not have to do other things, so it is valuable. Even with the higher grocery bills in San Francisco, cooking at home will always be the most economic (and usually healthiest!) So how do we make money? San Fran offers employment to both the white and blue collars of society. Utilities tend to cost 21.92% higher. Housing costs: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the largest bill consumers pay each month is for housing. Using these numbers, we calculated the net change in annual disposable income that a move to the new city will have on your wallet and lifestyle.