What it's like to live in San Diego
San Diego is a major city in California with household incomes running above the national average, a highly educated workforce, and hospitals with strong quality ratings. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. San Diego deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and larger class sizes than the national average.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Highly educated workforce
- Strong hospital ratings
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
How San Diego compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to San Diego
Based on San Diego's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,626
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $92,520 a year
- 53% of San Diego renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$181,340
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $90,670
- Homes cost 8.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 64% above US
$2,313/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,313 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $906,700. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $906,700 · 53% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.5% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.5%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 14% above US
374 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 1554/100k · San Diego Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.5 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 21% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 79°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 46°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
11 hospitals
There are 11 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 4.6 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 42% above US
51% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
297 public schools inside the boundary
There are 297 public schools inside the boundary and 76 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 23:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Cabrillo National Monument (13 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
San Diego's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and a highly educated workforce; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($2,313/mo) equals 26% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (21% of workers here already work from home) and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near San Diego
All California guides →Moving to Lemon Grove →
8 mi away · pop. 27,686
Rent $1,893/mo · Income $88,009
Compare with San Diego →Moving to El Cajon →
10 mi away · pop. 104,449
Rent $1,856/mo · Income $67,511
Compare with San Diego →Not sure San Diego is the one?
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