San Diego, CA

Cost of Living in San Diego, CA (2026): Rent, Utilities & Take-Home

$4,639/mo in San Diego. $1,593 left each month. Prices 17% above the US average.

Compare vs Chicago Rank metros from San DiegoHow we figure this

Monthly costs

Take-home $6,232/mo.

Taxes$2,289
Rent$2,292
Other living costs$2,347
Left over$1,593

Pay and tax, per year

Gross household pay: $102,252
Federal income tax: −$14,109
Social Security and Medicare: −$7,822
State income tax (CA): −$5,537
Take-home pay: $74,784
Effective tax rate: 26.9%

Living costs, per month

Rent, 1br: $2,292
Groceries: $468
Getting around: $650
Healthcare: $527
Utilities and internet: $293
Everything else: $410
Total spending: $4,639

Left over each month

$8,521 gross, minus $2,289 in tax and $4,639 in living costs.

$1,593

Average electric bill in California

About $282 a month for a household using 900 kWh. That is the EIA residential price for California in 2025, 31.35¢ per kWh. It is a state average, not a San Diego utility bill, and the utilities line in the monthly costs above already includes a modelled power cost.

Cost of Living in San Diego, CA (2026): Rent, Utilities & Take-Home

Monthly costs

Pay and tax, per year

Living costs, per month

Average electric bill in California

Moving from San Diego

Take-home by job in San Diego

Other California metros

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