Home / Select Cities  /  2023 Comparing San Diego, CA vs. Los Angeles, CA

2023 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
San Diego, CA vs Los Angeles, CA

Change Cities
Highlights
Los Angeles is 9.9% more expensive than San Diego.
Los Angeles housing costs are 8.8% more expensive than San Diego housing costs.
Health related expenses are 1.1% more in Los Angeles.


Overview
 San Diego, CALos Angeles, CAUnited States
 Overall160.4176.2100
 Food & Groceries109.7104.1100
 Health89.090.0100
 Housing278.4302.8100
 Median Home Cost$833,500$912,500$338,100
 Utilities102.893.7100
 Transportation120.2165.3100
 Miscellaneous153.9133.7100

100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
DID YOU KNOW?

In order to keep your same standard of living your salary can vary greatly - whether you buy or rent, require child care, or want to include taxes. This is why we are now offering a Premium Salary & Cost of Living Calculator.

Our Premium Calculator Includes:
- Compare Cities cost of living across 9 different categories
- Personal salary calculations can optionally include Home ownership or rental, Child care, and Taxes (with details on state and local sales, income, property and automobile taxes)
- Includes the cost of Child Care for toddlers or infants, at a day care center or home care
- Grocery prices, detailed for 29 staple items in six categories
- Difference in cost of Utilities, including electric, gas and fuel oil
- Health Care Premiums and hospital expenses for major surgeries
- Taxes, Fees and Expenses you should know about, such as local car insurance rates, automobile taxes and registration, commuting costs.
- and 100s of other items you should consider before you relocate

Upgrade to Premium | See Example

View More Data >

Reviews for San Diego    318 Reviews
America's finest city? If not, pretty darn close. - 7/10/2022
The only real knock again San Diego is the cost of living, but it is paradise compared to most cities of similar size. Those who complain about the traffic here or say... Read More

Start Your Review of San Diego


Beautiful Place, Too Crowded and Expensive. - 7/1/2022
I have lived in San Diego since 1968 and I am now almost 62 years old. I love San Diego, I really do. But it has become so crowded and so expensive over the years. It... Read More

Good but unlivable - 12/27/2021
Visited San Diego a few times and loved everything about it. Everything I hate about LA is absent in San Diego. The traffic, the 60k homeless population, the... Read More

Reviews for Los Angeles    240 Reviews
Toxic Wasteland - 11/7/2021
If I could give this place negative five stars, I would. Most of the people here are a giant waste of time. They are liars, manipulators, psychopaths, and sociopaths.... Read More

Start Your Review of Los Angeles


Worth the hustle to live there - 10/3/2021
Even with the high costs of living and the sooty air, I feel there is no other place in USA that has access to oceans and beaches, cultural and recreational... Read More
Timothy |  | Reply | No Replies

Pros & Cons listed - 9/28/2021
Ahhh where to begin? Long summary so bare with me. Born and raised in this ****hole, after 25 years finally getting close to be able to move state as I dreamed, as I've... Read More

 Most Recent Searches On Compare Cities
COMPARE COST OF LIVING
Compare San Diego, California Cost of Living vs Los Angeles, California Cost of Living: Taxes, Childcare, Groceries, Health...
Compare Now


ZIPS IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
92154, 92126, 92105, 92114, 92115, 92113, 92117, 92129, 92130, 92128, 38 total
ZIPS IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
90011, 91331, 91342, 90044, 91335, 91402, 90003, 90026, 90019, 91343, 108 total

PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION

Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.

Try Now


Join BestPlaces