City comparison
San Diego vs Washington Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between San Diego (141.4) and Washington (142.9).
San Diego Index
141.4
Washington Index
142.9
San Diego Rent
$3,700
Washington Rent
$3,800
San Diego Home price
$738,000
Washington Home price
$705,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in San Diego to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Washington.
Equivalent salary in Washington
$118,241
Based on the relative overall cost of living between San Diego and Washington.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | San Diego | Washington | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 194 | 201 | +7.0 (+3.6%) |
| Groceries | 122 | 117 | -5.0 (-4.1%) |
| Transportation | 109 | 109 | +0.0 (+0.0%) |
| Healthcare | 110 | 111 | +1.0 (+0.9%) |
| Utilities | 108 | 104 | -4.0 (-3.7%) |
| Miscellaneous | 118 | 118 | +0.0 (+0.0%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$6,650 / $6,720
San Diego / Washington
Couple
$11,040 / $11,160
San Diego / Washington
Family
$15,560 / $15,720
San Diego / Washington
Frequently Asked Questions
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View San Diego city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for San Diego.
View Washington city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Washington.
Last updated: Q1 2026
Data as of Q1 2026. Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, HUD Fair Market Rents.
Cost of living indexes use the national average as baseline (100). Data is updated periodically.