Cost of living comparison
San Diego is 2.4% more expensive than Los Angeles.
- Restaurants
-
pay 8.5% less in San Diego
- Groceries
-
pay 7.6% less in San Diego
- Transportation
-
pay 7.0% more in San Diego
- Housing
-
pay 22.7% more in San Diego
- Childcare
-
pay 13.0% less in San Diego
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 11.0% more in San Diego
- Clothing
-
pay 4.9% more in San Diego
The cost of housing, entertainment and sports, transportation, and clothing in San Diego are more expensive than in Los Angeles. Expenses including childcare, restaurants, and groceries are lower in San Diego.
If you lived in San Diego instead of Los Angeles, you would:
pay 8.5% less for restaurants
|
Los Angeles
|
San Diego
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$25.00
|
$21.50
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$12.00
|
$12.00
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.95
|
$2.64
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.23
|
$2.21
|
|
pay 7.6% less for groceries
|
Los Angeles
|
San Diego
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$4.99
|
$4.20
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.87
|
$7.34
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.56
|
$4.38
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.77
|
$4.28
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$7.25
|
$5.85
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.72
|
$2.44
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.05
|
$0.77
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.66
|
$1.77
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.26
|
$2.26
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.35
|
$1.31
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.15
|
$1.06
|
|
pay 7.0% more for transportation
|
Los Angeles
|
San Diego
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.96
|
$5.15
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$79.13
|
$72.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$30,499.50
|
$35,376.95
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$16.52
|
$19.40
|
|
pay 22.7% more for housing
|
Los Angeles
|
San Diego
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$72.71
|
$70.11
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,395.36
|
$2,839.47
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$2,100.61
|
$2,284.17
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$144.10
|
$240.96
|
|
pay 13.0% less for childcare
|
Los Angeles
|
San Diego
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,778.57
|
$1,754.29
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$28,750.00
|
$21,666.67
|
|
pay 11.0% more for entertainment and sports
|
Los Angeles
|
San Diego
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$8.00
|
$8.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.46
|
$5.41
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$12.00
|
$11.06
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$59.41
|
$84.21
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$18.00
|
$18.00
|
|
pay 4.9% more for clothing
|
Los Angeles
|
San Diego
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$58.46
|
$58.49
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$42.72
|
$59.66
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$101.30
|
$91.33
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$144.74
|
$122.86
|
|
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