Uprootmap
San Diego vs Flagstaff
San Diego and Flagstaff
Photo: Christopher Amrich / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 2.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Flagstaff are close to the US rate in this release, 6.7 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 Flagstaff
In 2022-2023, 89 households filed a move from San Diego to Flagstaff (about 132 people, average adjusted gross income $103,899). 60 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $2,292 in San Diego and $1,643 in Flagstaff. San Diego has a state tax on wages. Flagstaff has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Flagstaff is 82% of the national level for the same work, against 109% in San Diego.
Flagstaff averages 272 sunny days, with July highs around 106°F and January nights around 35°F. San Diego is 266 sunny days, 78°F in July, 50°F in January. Commutes average 19 minutes in Flagstaff 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, 89 households moved San Diego → Flagstaff (about 132 people, average AGI $103,899). 60 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 Flagstaff changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 413 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $2,200–$4,100
- Container or pod
- $1,500–$2,800
- Rent a truck
- $650–$1,250
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Dig into Flagstaff
Questions
Is Flagstaff cheaper than San Diego after tax and rent?
Yes. Flagstaff leaves about $1,270 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 $1,643 in Flagstaff.
Does Flagstaff have state income tax?
Flagstaff is in Arizona, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from San Diego to Flagstaff?
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.