United States
A laid-back coastal city with near-perfect weather, world-class surf, and a renowned zoo. Offers a relaxed SoCal lifestyle with a strong military and biotech presence.
#10 of 250
145% above average
Monthly cost, one adult
$ 3 572
Based on NYC = 100 index
San Diego is the 10. most expensive of the 250 cities we track — a month here comes to $ 3 572 for one adult.
Most of that goes on housing, which runs 162% above the median city and adds $ 1 623 a month: 1br apartment (city center) $ 2 746, 1br apartment (outside center) $ 2 497. It is also pricier than usual for restaurants.
Cheaper here than almost anywhere else is clothing, 41% below the median: jeans (levis or similar) $ 55, summer dress (chain store) $ 47.
Percentages compare this city against the median of all tracked cities, category by category.
33 prices on this page come from live scrapers (12 sources, observed September 28, 2026 to October 19, 2026). They are free to reuse under CC BY 4.0: credit CostCompass and link this page.
CostCompass (2026). Cost of living in San Diego, United States. Data as of 2026-10-19. https://costcompass.net/living/cities/san-diego. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
| Item | Price (USD) | Observations | Last observed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (City Center) | 2,746.00 / month | 1 | 2026-10-19 | Craigslist |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside Center) | 2,497.00 / month | 1 | 2026-10-19 | Craigslist |
| 3BR Apartment (City Center) | 3,750.00 / month | 1 | 2026-10-19 | Craigslist |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside Center) | 3,800.00 / month | 1 | 2026-10-19 | Craigslist |
| Chicken Breast (1kg) | 9.27 / item | 1 | 2026-10-19 | BLS Average Prices |
| Pork (1kg) | 9.30 / item | 1 | 2026-10-19 | BLS Average Prices |
| Beef (1kg) | 15.57 / item | 1 | 2026-10-19 | BLS Average Prices |
| Deli Meat / Ham (1kg) | 9.80 / item | 1 | 2026-10-19 | BLS Average Prices |
| Milk (1 liter) | 1.08 / item | 1 | 2026-10-19 | BLS Average Prices |
| Yogurt (150g) | 1.04 / item | 1 | 2026-10-19 | BLS Average Prices |
| Cheese (1kg) | 13.52 / item | 1 | 2026-10-19 | BLS Average Prices |
| Butter (200g) | 1.75 / item | 1 | 2026-10-19 | BLS Average Prices |
| Eggs (12) | 2.27 / item | 1 | 2026-10-19 | BLS Average Prices |
| Bread (500g) | 2.02 / item | 1 | 2026-10-19 | BLS Average Prices |
| Pasta (500g) | 1.52 / item | 1 | 2026-10-19 | BLS Average Prices |
| Rice (1kg) | 2.47 / item | 1 | 2026-10-19 | BLS Average Prices |
| Potatoes (1kg) | 2.18 / item | 1 | 2026-10-19 | BLS Average Prices |
| Tomatoes (1kg) | 4.39 / item | 1 | 2026-10-19 | BLS Average Prices |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 2.29 / item | 1 | 2026-10-19 | BLS Average Prices |
| Banana (1kg) | 1.45 / item | 1 | 2026-10-19 | BLS Average Prices |
| Oranges (1kg) | 3.80 / item | 1 | 2026-10-19 | BLS Average Prices |
| Flour (1kg) | 1.20 / item | 1 | 2026-10-19 | BLS Average Prices |
| Sugar (1kg) | 2.25 / item | 1 | 2026-10-19 | BLS Average Prices |
| Coffee (250g) | 5.14 / item | 1 | 2026-10-19 | BLS Average Prices |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | 1.61 / liter | 1 | 2026-10-19 | EIA Weekly Retail Gasoline |
| Basic Utilities (85m2 Apt) | 97.09 / month | 1 | 2026-10-19 | Official Electricity Tariffs |
| Mobile Plan (10GB+) | 35.00 / month | 1 | 2026-10-19 | Anglo Telecom Operators |
| Internet (60 Mbps+) | 50.00 / month | 1 | 2026-10-19 | T-Mobile Home Internet |
| Fitness Club (Monthly) | 21.88 / month | 2 | 2026-10-19 | Americas Entertainment Chains, Gym Chains |
| Cinema Ticket | 13.00 / ticket | 1 | 2026-10-19 | Cinema Ticket Prices (Americas) |
| Cold Medicine (6 days) | 5.83 / item | 1 | 2026-09-28 | Global Local Pharmacies |
| Jeans (Levis or Similar) | 54.61 / item | 2 | 2026-10-19 | H&M, Uniqlo |
| Summer Dress (Chain Store) | 47.28 / item | 2 | 2026-10-19 | H&M, Uniqlo |
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Monthly average costs by category
$ 2 622
per month
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per month
$ 366
per month
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per month
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per month
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per month
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per month
$ 17
per month