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California city profile

What Is It Like to Live in San Diego?

What it costs to live in San Diego, and how it compares with other California cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

47

242nd best value in California

How much you get for what you pay, versus other California cities.

Overall livability

50

197th overall in California

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

San Diego is home to about 1,385,398 people. A typical home runs $664,000 and a household earns around $89,500, a price-to-income ratio of 7.4. Among California's largest cities, it ranks 242nd for value and 197th overall.

San Diego at a glance

Median home price

$664,000

283rd in CA of 406

Median rent

$1,885/mo

Median household income

$89,500

Home price to income

7.4x

Unemployment

6.2%

208th in CA of 406

School rating

8/10

188th in CA of 406

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in CA of 406

Walk score

100/100

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‹ See all top California cities ranked  ยท  California state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within California only. Updated 2026.