Uprootmap
Fresno vs San Diego
Fresno and San Diego
Photo: Boatguy619 / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in San Diego are under the US rate in this release, 2.9 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Fresno to San Diego
In 2022-2023, 432 households filed a move from Fresno to San Diego (about 662 people, average adjusted gross income $61,456). 344 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,356 in Fresno and $2,292 in San Diego. Fresno has a state tax on wages. San Diego has a state tax on wages. Local pay in San Diego is 109% of the national level for the same work, against 85% in Fresno.
San Diego averages 266 sunny days, with July highs around 78°F and January nights around 50°F. Fresno is 261 sunny days, 105°F in July, 39°F in January. Commutes average 27 minutes in San Diego and 24 in Fresno.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 432 households moved Fresno → San Diego (about 662 people, average AGI $61,456). 344 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Fresno and San Diego changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 376 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $2,150–$4,000
- Container or pod
- $1,450–$2,750
- Rent a truck
- $650–$1,200
Explore more
Dig into San Diego
Questions
Is San Diego cheaper than Fresno after tax and rent?
No. San Diego leaves about $1,081 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,356 in Fresno and $2,292 in San Diego.
Does San Diego have state income tax?
San Diego is in California, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Fresno to San Diego?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.