Uprootmap
San Diego vs El Centro
San Diego and El Centro
Photo: Diego Delso / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in El Centro are under the US rate in this release, 5.5 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at San Diego to El Centro
In 2022-2023, 472 households filed a move from San Diego to El Centro (about 867 people, average adjusted gross income $55,966). 619 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $2,292 in San Diego and $1,009 in El Centro. San Diego has a state tax on wages. El Centro has a state tax on wages. Local pay in El Centro is 80% of the national level for the same work, against 109% in San Diego.
El Centro averages 276 sunny days, with July highs around 103°F and January nights around 41°F. San Diego is 266 sunny days, 78°F in July, 50°F in January. Commutes average 22 minutes in El Centro and 27 in San Diego.
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, 472 households moved San Diego → El Centro (about 867 people, average AGI $55,966). 619 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 San Diego and El Centro changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 98 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,800–$3,350
- Container or pod
- $1,200–$2,250
- Rent a truck
- $450–$800
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Dig into El Centro
Questions
Is El Centro cheaper than San Diego after tax and rent?
Yes. El Centro leaves about $1,406 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $2,292 in San Diego and $1,009 in El Centro.
Does El Centro have state income tax?
El Centro is in California, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from San Diego to El Centro?
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.