San Diego, CA vs San Francisco, CA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. San Diego is 22.8% cheaper than San Francisco. With a cost index of 176 vs 228, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from San Diego to San Francisco should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in San Diego is $2,223/month compared to $2,419/month in San Francisco — a 8% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: San Diego is more affordable at $848,500 median vs $1,380,500.

Median household income in San Diego is $104,321 compared to $141,446 in San Francisco (-26.2%). While San Francisco is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of San Diego spend roughly 25.6% of their income on rent, more than the 20.5% in San Francisco.

Climate-wise, San Diego is notably warmer with an average of 64.1°F compared to 57.7°F in San Francisco. San Francisco receives more rainfall at 22.9" per year compared to 11" in San Diego.