City comparison
Los Angeles, CA vs San Diego, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 1.5% higher than in San Diego, CA. Someone earning $100,000 in San Diego, CA would need about $101,500 in Los Angeles, CA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,459 a month in San Diego, CA versus $2,085 in Los Angeles, CA. On $100,000, that's 40% of take-home pay in San Diego, CA and 34% in Los Angeles, CA.
- Both are in CA, so estimated state income tax is the same: $5,070 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.0% moving from Los Angeles, CA to San Diego, CA ($124,085 → $121,585), while prices change by −1.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −0.5% in real buying power.
- Los Angeles, CA: price level 113.6 (much pricier)
- San Diego, CA: price level 111.9 (much pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Los Angeles, CA | San Diego, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 113.6 | 111.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,522 in San Diego | $101,501 in Los Angeles |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $2,085/mo | $2,459/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 34% | 40% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $55,850 | $58,690 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA |
Rent areas: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA HUD Metro FMR Area and San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA MSA. Metro areas: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA and San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Los Angeles | San Diego |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 170.4 | 179.3 |
| Goods | 106.6 | 108.0 |
| Utilities | 158.6 | 174.2 |
| Other services | 104.4 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 113.6 | 111.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Los Angeles, CA → San Diego, CA
Roughly even
Buying power +1.5%; rent takes 40% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
51 Fair offer
San Diego, CA → Los Angeles, CA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.5%; rent takes 34% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
51 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Los Angeles, CA is in the Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA pay area; San Diego, CA is in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from Los Angeles, CA to San Diego, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Los Angeles, CA | San Diego, CA | Real change, Los Angeles → San Diego |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $71,957 | $70,507 | −0.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $87,061 | $85,307 | −0.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $104,349 | $102,246 | −0.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $124,085 | $121,585 | −0.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $146,632 | $143,677 | −0.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Los Angeles, CA | San Diego, CA | San Diego pay in Los Angeles dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $101,860 | $97,000 | $98,456 (−3.3%) |
| Software Developers | $160,920 | $163,270 | $165,720 (+3.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $94,360 | $96,340 | $97,786 (+3.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $135,560 | $139,520 | $141,614 (+4.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.