Uprootmap
San Diego vs Hilton Head Island
San Diego and Hilton Head Island
Photo: Elisa.rolle / 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 Hilton Head Island are above the US rate in this release, 8.2 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 Hilton Head Island
In 2022-2023, 143 households filed a move from San Diego to Hilton Head Island (about 336 people, average adjusted gross income $93,902). 123 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $2,292 in San Diego and $1,483 in Hilton Head Island. San Diego has a state tax on wages. Hilton Head Island has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Hilton Head Island is 87% of the national level for the same work, against 109% in San Diego.
Hilton Head Island averages 225 sunny days, with July highs around 91°F and January nights around 43°F. San Diego is 266 sunny days, 78°F in July, 50°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Hilton Head Island 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, 143 households moved San Diego → Hilton Head Island (about 336 people, average AGI $93,902). 123 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 Hilton Head Island changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 2,496 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $4,850–$9,050
- Container or pod
- $3,500–$6,550
- Rent a truck
- $2,250–$4,200
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Dig into Hilton Head Island
Questions
Is Hilton Head Island cheaper than San Diego after tax and rent?
Yes. Hilton Head Island leaves about $1,226 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 $1,483 in Hilton Head Island.
Does Hilton Head Island have state income tax?
Hilton Head Island is in South Carolina, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from San Diego to Hilton Head Island?
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.