City comparison
Seattle vs San Diego Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Seattle (137.2) and San Diego (141.4).
Seattle Index
137.2
San Diego Index
141.4
Seattle Rent
$3,475
San Diego Rent
$3,700
Seattle Home price
$636,000
San Diego Home price
$738,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Seattle to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in San Diego.
Equivalent salary in San Diego
$116,459
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Seattle and San Diego.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Seattle | San Diego | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 184 | 194 | +10.0 (+5.4%) |
| Groceries | 118 | 122 | +4.0 (+3.4%) |
| Transportation | 113 | 109 | -4.0 (-3.5%) |
| Healthcare | 109 | 110 | +1.0 (+0.9%) |
| Utilities | 103 | 108 | +5.0 (+4.9%) |
| Miscellaneous | 116 | 118 | +2.0 (+1.7%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$6,410 / $6,650
Seattle / San Diego
Couple
$10,640 / $11,040
Seattle / San Diego
Family
$15,000 / $15,560
Seattle / San Diego
Frequently Asked Questions
Related comparisons
Seattle vs Miami
See salary, rent, and budget differences between Seattle and Miami.
Seattle vs Washington
See salary, rent, and budget differences between Seattle and Washington.
Seattle vs Boston
See salary, rent, and budget differences between Seattle and Boston.
View Seattle city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Seattle.
View San Diego city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for San Diego.
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.