Uprootmap
Santa Cruz vs San Diego
Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz to San Diego
In 2022-2023, 220 households filed a move from Santa Cruz to San Diego (about 285 people, average adjusted gross income $71,241). 154 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $2,638 in Santa Cruz and $2,292 in San Diego. Santa Cruz 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 98% in Santa Cruz.
San Diego averages 266 sunny days, with July highs around 78°F and January nights around 50°F. Santa Cruz is 247 sunny days, 77°F in July, 44°F in January. Commutes average 27 minutes in San Diego and 27 in Santa Cruz.
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, 220 households moved Santa Cruz → San Diego (about 285 people, average AGI $71,241). 154 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 Santa Cruz and San Diego changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 486 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $2,300–$4,250
- Container or pod
- $1,550–$2,950
- Rent a truck
- $700–$1,350
Explore more
Dig into San Diego
Questions
Is San Diego cheaper than Santa Cruz after tax and rent?
Yes. San Diego leaves about $57 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $2,638 in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz 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.