City comparison
San Diego, CA vs Spartanburg, SC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in San Diego, CA are 22.9% higher than in Spartanburg, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Spartanburg, SC would need about $122,900 in San Diego, 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 $1,083 in Spartanburg, SC. On $100,000, that's 40% of take-home pay in San Diego, CA and 17% in Spartanburg, SC.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $5,070 a year in CA and $4,843 in SC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −12.5% moving from San Diego, CA to Spartanburg, SC ($121,585 → $106,437), while prices change by −18.6%. Net effect of the transfer: +7.6% in real buying power.
- San Diego, CA: price level 111.9 (much pricier)
- Spartanburg, SC: price level 91.1 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| San Diego, CA | Spartanburg, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 111.9 | 91.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $81,378 in Spartanburg | $122,884 in San Diego |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $2,459/mo | $1,083/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $74,337 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $4,843 (SC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 40% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,690 | $47,650 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA MSA and Spartanburg, SC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA and Spartanburg, SC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | San Diego | Spartanburg |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 179.3 | 68.0 |
| Goods | 108.0 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 174.2 | 88.3 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 98.3 |
| Overall | 111.9 | 91.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
San Diego, CA → Spartanburg, SC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +22.9%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$228/yr.
100 Strong offer
Spartanburg, SC → San Diego, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −18.6%; rent takes 40% of take-home; state tax +$228/yr.
15 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
San Diego, CA is in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA pay area; Spartanburg, SC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from San Diego, CA to Spartanburg, SC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | San Diego, CA | Spartanburg, SC | Real change, San Diego → Spartanburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $70,507 | $61,722 | +7.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $85,307 | $74,678 | +7.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $102,246 | $89,508 | +7.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $121,585 | $106,437 | +7.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $143,677 | $125,776 | +7.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | San Diego, CA | Spartanburg, SC | Spartanburg pay in San Diego dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $97,000 | $60,990 | $74,947 (−22.7%) |
| Software Developers | $163,270 | $114,460 | $140,653 (−13.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $96,340 | $77,080 | $94,719 (−1.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $139,520 | $82,360 | $101,207 (−27.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.