Cost of Living in San Diego County, CA

Modeled annual cost: $77,560.

Median family income: $118,115.

Affordability Snapshot

CA County Median

$58,396

State Rank

9thMost expensive counties in CA out of 58See California county rankings

Median Income

$118,115

Location Type

Metro

Biggest category:

Housing is the biggest expense in San Diego County, CA.

$25,740 per year.

Cost breakdown

Total

$77,560

Per year

  • Housing:$25,740
  • Taxes:$18,793
  • Transport:$13,452
  • Other Costs:$9,367
  • Healthcare:$5,777
  • Food:$4,431
  • Childcare:$0

* Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

Cheaper counties in California

1Imperial County, CA
$47,311
2Kern County, CA
$49,670
3Glenn County, CA
$50,489
4Del Norte County, CA
$50,714
5Modoc County, CA
$50,936

Popular comparisons in California

Los Angeles County vs San Diego County→Cook County vs San Diego County→Harris County vs San Diego County→Maricopa County vs San Diego County→Orange County vs San Diego County→San Diego County vs Kings County→San Diego County vs Miami-Dade County→San Diego County vs Queens County→

See how San Diego County, CA compares across the country.

Explore our cost of living interactive map to compare San Diego County, CA with multiple counties in the United States.

Use the Cost of Living Map Launch WatchPennies cost of living map
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Cost of Living in San Diego County, CA (2026)