San Diego, CA at a glance
Median household income
$108,077$9,006 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in San Diego, CA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $2,288 | $27,456 | $91,520 | 25.4% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $2,459 | $29,508 | $98,360 | 27.3% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $3,001 | $36,012 | $120,040 | 33.3% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $3,998 | $47,976 | $159,920 | 44.4% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $4,845 | $58,140 | $193,800 | 53.8% |
What a typical income covers in San Diego, CA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $108,077 a year ($9,006 a month before tax).
What $108,077 leaves after California taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and California tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in California
Living in San Diego, CA: common questions
What is the median household income in San Diego, CA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in San Diego, CA is $108,077 per year (approximately $9,006 per month).
What is the average rent in San Diego, CA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $2,288 for a studio, $2,459 for one bedroom, $3,001 for two, $3,998 for three and $4,845 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is San Diego, CA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 11.9% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 111.9, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in San Diego, CA?
To keep a $3,001 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $120,040 a year, or $10,003 a month. That is 111% of what the typical household in San Diego, CA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in San Diego, CA?
On the local median income of $108,077 ($9,006 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $4,503 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,702 for everything else and $1,801 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $3,001 takes 67% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in San Diego, CA?
Homes in California paid 34.7¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $313. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.