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San Francisco vs San Diego Cost of Living

San Diego is 19% less expensive than San Francisco

San Francisco, CA

Cost of Living Index 179.6
H-1B Avg Salary $185,948
H-1B Filings 1,989
View full H-1B data →

San Diego, CA

Cost of Living Index 146.1
H-1B Avg Salary $142,159
H-1B Filings 955
View full H-1B data →

A $100,000 salary in San Francisco equals $81,347 in San Diego

Salary Conversion Table

What your salary in San Francisco is worth in San Diego

San Francisco San Diego Difference
$50,000 = $40,674 $-9,326
$60,000 = $48,808 $-11,192
$70,000 = $56,943 $-13,057
$75,000 = $61,011 $-13,989
$80,000 = $65,078 $-14,922
$90,000 = $73,213 $-16,787
$100,000 = $81,347 $-18,653
$110,000 = $89,482 $-20,518
$120,000 = $97,617 $-22,383
$125,000 = $101,684 $-23,316
$130,000 = $105,752 $-24,248
$140,000 = $113,886 $-26,114
$150,000 = $122,021 $-27,979
$160,000 = $130,156 $-29,844
$175,000 = $142,358 $-32,642
$180,000 = $146,425 $-33,575
$200,000 = $162,695 $-37,305
$225,000 = $183,032 $-41,968
$250,000 = $203,369 $-46,631
$300,000 = $244,042 $-55,958

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is San Diego more expensive than San Francisco? +

No, San Diego is 19% less expensive than San Francisco. The cost of living index is 146.1 compared to 179.6.

What salary do I need in San Diego to live like I do in San Francisco? +

To maintain your current standard of living, multiply your San Francisco salary by 0.81. For example, a $100,000 salary would need to be $81,347 in San Diego.

What are the biggest cost differences between the cities? +

Housing is typically the largest factor in cost of living differences between cities. Other significant factors include transportation costs, groceries, and healthcare expenses. Use our detailed comparison above to understand the overall cost difference.