The Salary.com cost of living calculator estimate is based on data related to five general categories: housing, food, healthcare, transportation, and energy. These are the universally recognized core components of any cost of living estimate and represent those expenses that apply to everyone. Obviously, there may be other factors that could contribute to your particular cost of living situation and not everyone has the same spending habits. For example, education and/or childcare costs might not apply to everyone, but for those who have those expenses, they could be significant and should be considered. We are providing additional data around those topics that can be helpful to gauge your particular situation. The Salary.com cost of living calculator is unique in that it also incorporates current salary data for thousands of jobs specific to a chosen home or work location to provide a more refined estimate of the cost of living variations. You can see how your job and your salary will be impacted by a change of location. If you live in one location but work in another, the cost of living calculator will make those adjustments to provide an accurate estimate of the change in COL. The Salary.com cost of living calculator helps you to make living cost comparisons easily and quickly.

The Salary.com cost of living calculator estimate is based on data related to five general categories: housing, food, healthcare, transportation, and energy. These are the universally recognized core components of any cost of living estimate and represent those expenses that apply to everyone. Obviously, there may be other factors that could contribute to your particular cost of living situation and not everyone has the same spending habits. For example, education and/or childcare costs might not apply to everyone, but for those who have those expenses, they could be significant and should be considered. We are providing additional data around those topics that can be helpful to gauge your particular situation. The Salary.com cost of living calculator is unique in that it also incorporates current salary data for thousands of jobs specific to a chosen home or work location to provide a more refined estimate of the cost of living variations. You can see how your job and your salary will be impacted by a change of location. If you live in one location but work in another, the cost of living calculator will make those adjustments to provide an accurate estimate of the change in COL. The Salary.com cost of living calculator helps you to make living cost comparisons easily and quickly.

Cost of Living Comparison between Scottsdale, AZ vs San Diego, CA

Moving to San Diego, CA from Scottsdale, AZ with a salary of $60,000

Thinking about moving to another city? Here are two important questions and the numbers to you will need to answer those questions:

How much more or less will it cost to live in the new city?

Look at the percentage difference between the cost of living where you live now, and the cost of living in the new location.

How much more or less will pay for the same or similar job be in the new city?

Look at the percentage increase or reduction in your salary that you could expect if you were to move to that new location

Using these numbers, we calculated the net change in annual disposable income that a move to the new city will have on your wallet and lifestyle.

View Minimum Wage Values in Scottsdale and San Diego Compared with the Cost of Living

Cost of Living change

Scottsdale, AZ to San Diego, CA

39.9%

$50k

$100k

Estimated Salary change

Scottsdale, AZ to San Diego, CA

8.7%

$50k

$100k

Think Carefully…

Looks like this move could have a negative net change in disposable income

$-18,720.7

Explanation

The cost of living in San Diego, CA is 39.9% higher than in Scottsdale, AZ. You would have to earn a salary of $83,943 to maintain your current standard of living.

Employers in San Diego, CA typically pay 8.7% more than employeers in Scottsdale, AZ. The same type of job in the same type of company in San Diego, CA will typically pay $65,223.

Cost of Living at Home

Typical Salary at Work

Current Location

Scottsdale, AZ Edit

New Location

San Diego, CA Edit

Percent Change

39.9%

8.7%

Current Employment Statistics in California.

Employment is up 0.2% over this time last year.

Cost of Living Calculator

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Comments about the Cost of Living in San Diego, CA

I love to be able to eat at restaurants and try different foods, if I include that along with groceries in my overall cost of living, how would I do in San Diego, CA?

In San Diego, California going out to eat at a restaurant and buying food is considered to be affordable. Make sure you take this into account as you plan your overall cost of living in San Diego, CA. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

I love to go to sports events, what does San Diego, California have to offer?

I love baseball. In San Diego, California I go to a lot of San Diego Padres games. The tickets are expensive and add to my entertainment expenses, increasing my cost of living, but it is worth it! It is so much fun to see my favorite team in person. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

Are there any good ways to save money on Cable TV and internet service in San Diego, CA?

The average cost of internet access in the U.S. is $66.20 per month. There are many providers and various packages that are offered, many that bundle internet, cable, and phone together. Pricing for various packages can vary a lot even in the same location. You should evaluate the options based on your usage and preferences and pick the best fit for your needs. One tip to reduce this cost and your overall cost of living, is to get cable service from another source like Direct TV, Netflix, Sling, Amazon Prime or others. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

I am nervous about moving, what is the typical cost of moving to another city and what should I have to think about?

Even if you are moving within your current state, the cost of moving could be over $1,000 depending on the city, what you are moving, and how much professional help you hire. You can save some expense by packing boxes yourself, renting a U-Haul truck, and asking friends and family to help with the loading and unloading. You should call at least three moving companies for a moving estimate, the cost might be less than you think and you won’t have to worry about a friend hurting their back trying to move your heavy furniture. Another way to make your move easier – and save money – is by weeding out items you don’t need anymore. Why bother to move stuff that you do not even use! Have a yard sale or find a local charitable organization and donate items you no longer use. Make sure you include these moving costs into the overall cost of living for year one in San Diego, CA. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

Are there any tips that will help make the move to San Diego, California easier for my child?

Make sure your child has a favorite toy, doll, game, clothing, blanket, snacks, etc. to take with them during the transition. Once you arrive, let your child help with arranging and decorating their new room. You may be tempted to unpack everything when you arrive, but make sure you take a break from unpacking to spend time playing and relaxing with your child. Plan on packing a special bag to take with you with those items that you will need first. Towels, soap, a few basic kitchen utensils and food items like crackers, tea, juice, will make your new location functional as soon as you arrive and fell more like home. A small new toy, book, or video that you give to your child when you arrive might help them to feel happy and relaxed in the new location. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

What kind of child care is available in San Diego, California and what is the cost?

It is difficult to exactly predict the cost of child care in any city, which for parents, is a large part of the cost of living. There are different arrangements and lengths of time that are needed to care for a child, and costs may vary a lot depending on the services provided. Based on the state average, for San Diego child care for a child up to 3 years could cost $11817 per year. California is ranked NO. 11 in annual cost of child care in the U.S. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

What are rents like in San Diego,CA?

In San Diego,CA, my friend pays $2023 for a large 2 bedroom apartment. Since he has 2 children, he needs to have a large apartment. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

Will I have to pay a lot in taxes if I move to San Diego, California?

San Diego, has one of the highest state income tax rates. This could potentially reduce your disposable income and could increase your overall cost of living. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

I need to use public transportation, what is it like in San Diego, California?

San Diego, California is considered to have a very good public transport system. California is ranked NO. 26 in U.S for public transportation availability. Utilizing public transportation could reduce commuting costs in San Diego, California. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

Is San Diego, California very congested with traffic?

Unfortunately, driving in San Diego, California is not very easy and may take up a lot of your time. It is ranked as number 71 in the United States, making it below average in driver friendliness. This means that the time and ease of your driving times will impact your cost of living, since driving in heavy and slow moving traffic uses a lot of gas. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

How long does it take to get to work in San Diego, California on average?

Getting to work is important. The weather, traffic, time of year, day of week and if there are accidents, can all impact your commute time. Hopefully you will have a smooth commute in San Diego, California, but be prepared for delays. The time you spend commuting is time you do not have to do other things, so it is valuable. The average time for commuting in San Diego is 36.81 minutes. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

Cost of living in San Diego, California is important, but what about the weather?

The weather in San Diego is ideal. Based on data collected by NOAA National Climatic Data Center, San Diego is considered to have one of the most favorable climates in the country based on comfort and number of days with clear skies. You will enjoy living in San Diego, California. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

What is the cost of public transit in San Diego, California?

Public transit in San Diego, CA will cost you around $72.00 per month. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

Cost of Living Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Cost of Living index and how is it used?

In the simplest terms, a Cost of Living index is the estimated amount that represents the cost of the basic necessities required for an individual to live. A cost of living or COL estimate may typically include estimates for housing, food, energy, medical care, transportation, taxes, and other necessities. A COL index may be used to measure what the cost difference would be for a person living in a certain location compared to another location. This cost of living comparison helps individuals make decisions about where they would like to live and what they can afford based on the costs in that location. A cost of living comparison can provide guidance about how an increase or decrease in these basic living expenses impacts necessary spending for an individual or a family. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

What factors are included in estimating your cost of living?

The Salary.com cost of living calculator estimate is based on data related to five general categories: housing, food, healthcare, transportation, and energy. These are the universally recognized core components of any cost of living estimate and represent those expenses that apply to everyone. Obviously, there may be other factors that could contribute to your particular cost of living situation and not everyone has the same spending habits. For example, education and/or childcare costs might not apply to everyone, but for those who have those expenses, they could be significant and should be considered when you evaluate your cost of living comparison. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

The Salary.com cost of living calculator is unique in that it also incorporates current salary data for thousands of jobs specific to a chosen home or work location to provide a more refined estimate of the cost of living variations. You can see how your job and your salary will be impacted by a change of location. If you live in one location but work in another, the cost of living calculator will make those adjustments to provide an accurate estimate of the change in COL. The Salary.com cost of living calculator helps you to make cost of living comparisons cost comparisons easily and quickly. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

See how much you can get when it is an hourly pay

Use our Salary Converter Tool, a user-friendly resource designed to see how much your salary will be if converted into hourly/weekly/biweekly/monthly/yearly pay. With just a few clicks, you can gain valuable insights into your earning potential, ensuring you make informed financial decisions.

See how much you can get when it is a yearly pay

Last Update: 2024-11-21