Sunshine-seekers flock to San Diego for its weather, beaches, and quality of life, which include a wide variety of outdoor activities, entertainment, nightlife, and more. The overarching county gained 200,000 residents over the past decade, according to the most recent Census, while the city of San Diego’s population grew more than 8% in that time, making it the third-fastest growing city in California.

While San Diego is an expensive, largely car-dependent place to live, it’s beloved by residents for its diversity, healthy job market, and its famously laid-back culture.

If you’re looking to make a new home for yourself in “America’s Finest City,” read along for our all-inclusive guide to moving to San Diego.

Things to Know About Moving to San Diego

San Diego lies in the southwesternmost region of the country, spanning 70 miles of coastline on the North Pacific Ocean. It’s home to the first permanent Spanish settlement in California, which is why historians consider it the birthplace of the entire state.

Population

San Diego is the eighth largest city in the U.S. and the second-largest in California. At the time of the 2020 census, its population was almost 1.4 million. The city sits atop deep canyons that segment its neighborhoods into pockets of flat space, called mesas. These hilly divides make San Diego more spread out than similarly-sized cities.

The broader San Diego County is even more sprawling. It’s home to nearly 3.3 million people (making it the 17th most populous county in the U.S.), encompassing Southwestern California between Riverside and Orange Counties and the southern U.S. border, north of Tijuana.

Cost of living

San Diego is pricey, ranking among other major California cities (like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Jose) as one of the most expensive places to live in the U.S. The scalding-hot housing market and a competitive job market with a wide variety of well-paying positions both contribute to San Diego being a high-cost city.

San Diego’s consumer price index rose 8.2% between 2021 and 2022 (compared to about 7.5 nationally), due in part to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to GOBankingRates, you need to make $137,826 a year to live comfortably (meaning you’re spending 50% of your money on necessities, saving 20% of it, and spending 30% recreationally) in San Diego if you’re a homeowner, and $120,786 if you’re renting.

But if you’re just trying to scrape by, an MIT study calculated the living wage income for a childless adult to be $44,229. As of 2020, San Diego county rent consumed about two thirds of average wages — the eighth highest rate out of major counties in the country.

Median household income

According to Census data, the median household income in San Diego proper is similar to that of the overarching county. As shown, both figures are well north of the national median household income.

Cost of living comparison

Here’s how San Diego’s cost of living measures up against other American cities.

	Housing	Food and Groceries	Transportation	Healthcare
City	% higher or lower than national average	% higher or lower than national average	% higher or lower than national average	% higher or lower than national average
San Diego	179.1% higher	9.7% higher	20.2% higher	11% lower
Los Angeles	73.3% higher	4.1% higher	65.3% higher	10.6% higher
San Francisco	469.2% higher	16.6% higher	58.2% higher	14.9% higher
New York City	194.3% higher	16.6% higher	81.1% higher	27.6% higher
Chicago	0.9% lower	2.8% lower	38.5% higher	12% lower
Phoenix, AZ	3.5% higher	2.7% lower	17.9% higher	7.5% lower
Orlando, FL	6.1% higher	0.7% higher	10.1% higher	3.4% higher
Houston, TX	19.8% lower	1.9% lower	19% higher	4.9% lower
Oklahoma City	43.8% lower	5.3% lower	4.5% lower	6.2% higher

*Percentages shown as higher or lower than the national average cost as of March 2022.

Compare San Diego’s cost of living to your current city’s using this online calculator.

Should you rent or buy a home in San Diego?

As with anywhere else, the age-old rent vs. buy conundrum comes down to your financial situation and long-term plans. It’s worth noting that San Diego’s typical home value has recently skyrocketed to more than $918,000 (up almost 25% from last year).

Home prices are also rising faster than rents in the county. According to one study of U.S. Housing Markets, renting in San Diego is usually the cheaper option. Buying, however, comes with the long-term advantage of investing in property that can appreciate over time.

Average rental prices in San Diego

Rents in San Diego have been following national trends, steadily rising for years. They are currently up nearly 18% from February 2021.

If you’re looking for rental units, here are the median rates you can expect (though exact prices will vary by neighborhood).

Studio apartment	$1,850
1-bedroom apartment	$2,300
2-bedroom apartment	$3,050
3-bedroom apartment	$3,900

Prices accurate as of March 2022. Source: Zumper.com

While rents are high, the city was recently awarded more than $8 million by the federal government to offer housing stability and assistance to low income households and residents financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. San Diegans who’ve applied and meet eligibility criteria can receive funds for unpaid rental debt they’ve accrued since April of 2020, as well as past-due utilities.

Average home prices in San Diego

San Diego is a sellers’ market. Low inventory, surging demand, and low mortgage rates catapulted the county’s median home sales price to $740,000 in 2021, which is a 17.3% increase from the year before. That’s almost twice as expensive as the national median home price, which is about $374,900.

The market is red hot, and prices are likely to continue rising. According to one estimate, San Diego trails only Phoenix as the hottest real estate market in the nation.

Economy

The San Diego metro area has a GDP of about $240 billion. That’s the fourth largest in California, and it also ranks among the top 20 nationally.

As of January 2022, San Diego’s unemployment rate was 4.2%, just slightly higher than the national rate of 4%. Unemployment in San Diego, like much of the country, is trending downward as pandemic recovery continues.

Major industries

San Diego has an eclectic economy influenced by its military presence, proximity to the ocean, and, yes, great weather. Its largest industries include:

Defense and military. San Diego has the country’s largest concentration of military personnel. The region is home to more than 143,000 active duty service members — about 8% of the country’s military population — across Naval facilities, Marine Corps bases, and U.S. Coast Guard stations.

Because of this, some of the country’s biggest aerospace and defense contractors loom large in San Diego. This includes Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and General Dynamics. According to a 2021 economic impact study, the military creates 23% of the region’s jobs and contributed $55.2 billion to San Diego’s gross regional product.

Tourism. Warm weather and miles of coastline make San Diego a huge tourist destination. Thanks in part to attractions like the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, and LEGOLAND, Its tourism industry supports 194,000 jobs and generates almost $18 billion in economic impact.

International Trade. San Diego’s proximity to the Pacific Ocean and U.S.-Mexico border makes it perfectly situated for international commerce. The Port of San Diego spans 34 miles of waterfront and provides more than 44,000 jobs.

Manufacturing. San Diego is home to more than 3,000 manufacturing companies, which offer more than 110,000 jobs in industries spanning from defense and aerospace to craft beer, sports equipment, and more.

Biotech. San Diego is home to research institutes, universities, and pharmaceutical companies that make it a thriving life science market — generating about $41 billion in economic activity. Its biotech sector provides 27,095 jobs with average annual wages of $107,824, and the University of California San Diego produces the largest number of biotech graduates in the state.

Diversity

San Diego is becoming increasingly diverse and multiethnic.

According to the most recent Census data, San Diego County is:

45% Non-Hispanic White
1% Hispanic or Latino
6% Asian
5% Black or African American

In part because of its proximity to Mexico, the San Diego region is one of the most bilingual places in the U.S. Almost 41% of city residents aged 5 or older speak a second language at home — more than twice the national average. What’s more, 26.5% of San Diego’s population is foreign born, compared to 13.2% nationally.

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Crime

Crime rates rose about 20% in San Diego between mid 2020 and 2021, in line with a national uptick in violent crime since the start of the pandemic.

But crime in San Diego is still well down from its peak in the late 1980s and early 1990s. According to Neighborhood Scout, it has a lower crime rate than 25% of other cities.

San Diego has a violent crime rate of 3.88 per 1,000 residents, which is below the national median of 4.4. The city also has 18.1 property crimes per 1,000 residents, compared to 19 nationally.

San Diego Property Crimes		Burglary	Theft	Motor Vehicle Theft
	Total	3,466	16,581	5,052
	Rate per 1,000	2.50	11.96	3.64

United States Property Crimes		Burglary	Theft	Motor Vehicle Theft
	Total	1,035,314	4,606,324	810,400
	Rate per 1,000	3.12	13.90	2.45

Weather

It doesn’t matter what season it is: if you step outside in the afternoon, you probably won’t be chilly or miserably hot. This to say, for low-humidity sunshine-seekers, San Diego is about as ideal as climates come — whether you want to play beach volleyball in February or go for an August jog that isn’t too sweltering.

Often classified as a Mediterranean climate, summers are slightly hotter and drier than the slightly colder, wetter winters. But temperatures are mostly consistent throughout the calendar year, so San Diego is not ideal for people who love experiencing four distinct seasons.

On average, there are about 263 sunny days per year, and only 12 inches of annual rainfall (which, like the rest of Southern California, makes the area drought prone).

San Diego rarely gets colder than 50 degrees at night or warmer than 80 degrees during the day.

Getting around

In 2019, 76% of San Diego County workers drove to their jobs alone. While the pandemic has since upended some residents’ commuting habits, most San Diegans rely on their cars.

The freeways feeding into downtown San Diego can be extra congested during morning rush hour, and again later in the evening as drivers head home after work. But on average, traffic isn’t as bad in San Diego as it is in other major California cities.

Average commute times: About 25 minutes, but can vary according to neighborhood.

Most walkable neighborhood: Little Italy, 98 Walk Score

Miles of bikeways in the region: 1,715

More centrally-located neighborhoods — like Little Italy and the Gaslamp Quarter — are pedestrian-friendly, providing easy access to restaurants, shops, and museums. It’s also easy to find dockless scooters downtown.

San Diego has plenty of public transportation options — including buses, pedicabs, and waterfront shuttles (which you can ride all day for only $3). There’s also the San Diego Trolley light rail system that connects east and south county neighborhoods to areas downtown.

Even though the county is spread out, San Diego proper is easy to navigate. It lies on a grid, with numbered roads going north to south and an alphabetical sequence east to west.

Politics

San Diego skews liberal, but is more moderate than many other major California cities. In the 2020 presidential election, Joe Biden carried 60.2% of the vote in San Diego county, while Donald Trump won 37.5%.

The county used to be a Republican stronghold. In 2008, Barack Obama became the first Democratic candidate to win a majority of votes there since before World War II (Bill Clinton won a plurality in 1992).

For the most part, regions closer to the Mexican border lean Democratic, while redder areas tend to be further north.

San Diego County has a legislative branch made of a five-member board of supervisors, which currently has three Democrats and Two Republicans.

The city of San Diego has a Democratic mayor named Todd Gloria, who is the first non-white and openly gay person to serve the position. It also has a nine-member city council (which leans heavily Democratic).

Things to do

San Diego cashes in on its blissful weather by offering a dizzying array of fun for all ages and interests. Any day is perfect for lazing on one of the city’s 31 beaches, roaming through Balboa park, drinking a craft beer, and much more.

For families. The San Diego Zoo spans 100 acres and houses more than 12,000 animals from 650 species — including the largest colony of koalas outside Australia. There’s also LEGOLAND, SeaWorld, and a seaside theme park called Belmont Park.

Outdoors. San Diego offers absolutely no shortage of outdoor recreation. Of its many beaches, La Jolla Cove is a standout for its bluff-adjacent walkways and picturesque swimming areas. Further north, there’s Carlsbad, where you’ll find surfers, beachside yoga practitioners, and a mean cup of Clam Chowder. Near Ocean Beach, you can even book a whale watching trip on a boat.

If you prefer the land to the sea, Balboa Park offers 1,200 acres of eye-catching attractions, like a lush botanical garden and hidden canyon full of exotic palm trees.

Art and culture. San Diego is home to several museums that celebrate Naval history. A fan favorite is the USS Midway Museum, which lets visitors tour the country’s longest-serving aircraft carrier. There’s also the Maritime Museum, which has a world-famous collection of historic ships.

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is a walkable neighborhood packed with museums that teach visitors about California’s foundational history, as well as San Diego’s colonial times from 1821 to 1872.

Sports. They lost their beloved Chargers to Los Angeles in 2017, but San Diego is still home to the Padres, a Major League Baseball team that plays at Petco Park downtown.

San Diego is also a huge golf capital, with 72 courses sprinkled across mountains, deserts, and beaches throughout the region. One of its most famous courses, Torrey Pines, has hosted two U.S. Opens.

Food. San Diego is known worldwide for its Mexican fare and seafood. It’s also big on breakfast haunts, food truck options, steakhouses, and much more.

The city is also a huge craft beer hub, known for its West-Coast-Style IPA and home to more than 150 breweries — including Coronado Brewing Company, Mujeres Brew House, and Kairoa Brewing.

Raising a family in San Diego

With endless summers, countless kid-friendly activities, and great schools, San Diego is a great place to raise a family (so long as you can afford to live there).

	Median Age	Household Size	Married Population
San Diego	34.9 years	2.7	45.6%
U.S.	38.1	2.5	52%

Schools in San Diego

San Diego County has one of the highest concentrations of top-tier public schools in the state of California, and eight of its public high schools rank among the top 500 nationwide.

In terms of academic performance and testing, the five best schools in the San Diego area are:

Rank	School	Location	Math	Reading
1	La Jolla Elementary School	La Jolla	95%	97%
2	Pacific Rim Elementary School	Carlsbad	91%	94%
3	Ocean Air	San Diego	91%	91%
4	Jerabek Elementary School	San Diego	91%	89%
5	Solana Highlands Elementary School	San Diego	95%	89%

Central San Diego: A Neighborhood Guide

San Diego County includes 18 cities and spans to the very bottom of the U.S.-Mexico border. While the area’s boundaries are fluid, it’s generally divided into four regions, including South Bay, East County, North County (which has a coastal and inland section), and Central San Diego.

Central San Diego is the densest of the four areas. It includes the city itself — home to dozens of unique neighborhoods across nine districts — and a peninsula across the San Diego Bay called Coronado.

Coronado

It’s technically outside city limits, but you can’t talk about Central San Diego without mentioning Coronado (Spanish for “the crowned one”), a resort city on the San Diego Bay. It’s frequently considered one of the best beach towns in the U.S. and has a boardwalk lined with shops, restaurants, and galleries.

This is about as ritzy as beach culture gets — think yacht parties and lavish seaside resorts like

the famous Hotel Coronado — though you’ll never feel out of place wearing flip flops.

The median listing home price is more than $2 million in this area. But even if that’s out of your price range, Coronado is easily accessible via a two-mile bridge that connects it to the city of San Diego. You can also cross the bay via ferry.