Living in San Diego

It’s known as America’s Finest City. It’s famous the world over for its sunny, warm weather, its lovely beaches, and its rich history. But what is it actually like living in San Diego? What can you expect when it comes to cost of living, schools, crime rates, transportation and taxes? Can you afford to live here? Let’s break it down.


What is the Cost of Living in San Diego?

What is the Cost of Living in San Diego?

I’m going to give it to you straight—San Diego is an expensive place to live. Sperling’s Best Places an index for cost of living nationwide where the average is set at 100.00. On that index, San Diego rates a 166.00. That is just marginally less expensive than nearby Los Angeles, which is rated at 166.20.

Why is the cost of living so steep? San Diego’s balmy climate and abundant attractions make it a highly desirable place to live, so prices here have always been on the high side. With a housing shortage affecting the entire region, the cost for homes and apartments has skyrocketed in recent years.

On average, you will also pay more for healthcare, food and transportation. Utilities however should not run you much more than you would pay on average anywhere else in the country.

What Will You Pay in Taxes?

What Will You Pay in Taxes?

The good news is that San Diego’s cost of living is balanced out in some respects by low tax rates. The sales tax rate for California is 7.25%, which is just slightly lower than the nationwide average. Income taxes in the state are quite a bit lower than they are in many other states (including neighboring Oregon), so that is some money back in your pocket.

What is the Employment Market Like?

What is the Employment Market Like?

Hopefully if you are moving to San Diego, you have a job lined up, because this can be a competitive market. You will have an edge if you happen to speak both English and Spanish and having some connections in the area can greatly enhance your prospects.

The unemployment rate recorded for San Diego is 4.90% right now, which is a little bit lower than the nationwide average of 5.20%. Job growth nationwide is 1.59%, but in San Diego, it is a little bit faster at 2.22%.

How much can you expect to make?

How much can you expect to make?

That of course depends on your sector and position, but we can glance over some statistics to get a feel for the average income in the city.

According to the City of San Diego, the typical family of four residing in San Diego brings in a median income of $63,400. The US Census estimate is $66,529, with a per capita income of $33,482. It is believed that around 12.4% of the population is impoverished.

If you visit the Census link, you can view further information such as the number of men- and women-owned firms, minority-owned firms, and so forth.

What Does the Average Home Cost in San Diego?

What Does the Average Home Cost in San Diego?

As mentioned previously, housing in San Diego is on the pricey side, with costs rising swiftly as demand continues to soar. The Census reports that from 2012-2016, the median home value was $454,600. As of the time of this writing, Zillow lists the home value index for San Diego at $625,759.

What Are Schools Like in San Diego?

What Are Schools Like in San Diego?

Families with children will be pleased to know that there are numerous different options for schooling in the area, both public and private. That includes 42 primary and secondary school districts as well as 5 college districts. 335 private schools are in the area.

If you research online, you can view ratings for the different schools and districts. Some schools which have received widespread acclaim include Del Norte High School, Scripps Ranch High School, Scripps Elementary School, and Willow Grove Elementary School.

How High Are San Diego Crime Rates?

How High Are San Diego Crime Rates?

According to a recent report from the San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego’s crime rate has dipped to its lowest point in almost half a century. Crime rates decreased 7% between 2016 and 2017 alone. So, for those looking for peace and quiet and a safe place to raise their kids, that is excellent news.

How Can You Get Around San Diego?

How Can You Get Around San Diego?

If you have ever been caught in San Diego rush hour traffic, you might feel a bit daunted by the prospect of traveling around the area—especially since a lot of people work across town from where they live.

If you time your drives however and you do not live on the edge of the city, you can usually get around quickly. The Census states that on average, most San Diegans are able to commute to their jobs within 25.3 minutes.

Don’t want to drive? A lot of folks in the area rely on public transportation provided by the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. There are both buses and trolleys, so you do not actually need to own a car. The Orange, Green and Blue lines keep the entire area well-connected.

What Is There to Do Around the Area?

What Is There to Do Around the Area?

One of the biggest draws to San Diego is leisure. You will work hard to make ends meet with the cost of living, but on the weekends, you will find endless fun activities awaiting you around the area.

Downtown, you can visit famous destinations like Balboa Park, SeaWorld San Diego, the San Diego Zoo, and the USS Midway Museum, or you can shop or dine in the Gaslamp Quarter. Lining the coast are numerous beautiful beaches where you can take in the fresh, warm air and wade in the sparkling waters. Those who enjoy hiking will want to drive east out of town to Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

Let’s make your California dreams come true!

Maureen can connect you with competitive mortgage rates and help you move into a beautiful home in sunny San Diego. If you are ready to make San Diego your home, contact Maureen Martin at HomePlus Mortgage today at (619) 857-7191.

See What Our Clients Are Saying About Us!

Andrew Kim
Andrew Kim
17:42 30 Jan 24
Tl;dr - All the other reviews are legit. Maureen is the best!I'm a few months late writing this review and still writing one because Maureen definitely deserves ALL the 5 star reviews.I came to Maureen after working with another mortgage broker. After being told some strange things and being told the home we wanted would be complicated, I had a gut feeling I should fact check my original broker and called Maureen just to get another lender's opinion. She confirmed that the things I was told just weren't adding up and took the time to go over some things with me, even though I was already working with someone else!! Anyone else might see me as a waste of time because I was already with another broker! Well, after talking with her, I knew I had to transfer to her and sign the papers with Maureen to work with her. She just immediately gave me the confidence I needed as a first time home buyer. Trust me, and she'll tell you herself, when she needs answers from others (getting answers was a timely and annoying thing for me prior to Maureen), she will get what she needs to get things done. And she'll get them QUICK and update you immediately. GREAT communication.She even helped me get a lower rate and told me the rates I was getting quoted before were much higher than they should have been. A month later, I became a homeowner and Maureen and her team has made the whole home buying process easier than buying a car!Overall, Maureen has been a delight and VERY communicative. You won't be left in the dark with Maureen and you can be confident she'll guide you through the whole process with your best interest.
Edgar V
Edgar V
18:28 27 Jan 24
Maureen was outstanding! She made the process easy and very smooth and was always willing to help. It would shock me that I would send her a message at weird times of the day and she was always great about responding in a promptly manner. She went above and beyond and for that I am thankful. I couldn’t have had a better experience on purchasing my first property without her :)
Sam Button
Sam Button
23:11 27 Sep 23
I had the pleasure of working with Maureen for my first home purchase, and her service was stellar from start to finish! Things can be very daunting for a first time home buyer, and Maureen made sure to take the time to explain everything easily and effectively - she is a great communicator and she made the process much easier for me. I was previously working with a different lender and Maureen was able to match their fees and provide quite a bit lower interest rate for me! Definitely will be recommending her to friends/family in the future if they decide to purchase a home.
Edward Lepe
Edward Lepe
16:08 25 Aug 23
This review is long overdue but well deserved. Maureen came to the rescue when I purchased my home in April. I was working with a different lender that was referred to me by my realtor, after a few bad experiences and my gut telling me to get a second opinion, I called Maureen less than 3 weeks before closing. From the beginning, Maureen was genuine, professional, and kind, she let me know what she could and could not do, set the right expectations and made me feel at ease. She immediately got to work, I can tell she was genuine in her intent to help me...not only was she able to close in record time, but she saved me over 1% in my rate, lower closing cost and a lower monthly payment. All while closing in record time. Maureen is truly in a class above the rest, she's passionate about helping people, genuine, honest, professional and effective. Thank you Maureen!
Ron Steen
Ron Steen
23:05 30 May 23
Spent 10 minutes on the phone with her and she helped me immensely. Without trying to push a sale or make a deal, she helped me answer questions and was truly trying to help me even though she had nothing to gain. I will recommend her to anyone that will listen. SHE IS AMAZING!!!
Yara Tercero
Yara Tercero
16:42 24 May 23
Maureen helped us close in record time even with repair negotiations. She was super on top of everything. Couldn’t have asked for a better experience with an always stressful process of buying a home. 1000% recommend Maureen. She sticks to her word and won’t promise anything she can’t deliver on.
Melanie Davis
Melanie Davis
10:39 19 May 23
If you are looking for a review to help you decide if you should use Maureen, this is it. She’s up front and “kept it real” with me. I had shopped around for the best rate for my refi and lenders quotes were all over the board and I couldn’t make sense of it. I called her to see what she could do and not only did she have expert knowledge of the market, she offered excellent advice on how to navigate it to my benefit. No one else did that. She was patient and explained how things worked so I understood what decisions I was making. I prefer to work with someone who will tell me like it is instead of what they think I want to hear. I saw first hand how some brokers don’t care, you’re just another client to them. But she advocated for me as if she were me and that is invaluable and rare. I can’t thank her enough for her insight, experience and support during the process. I’m so glad I called her.
Jerome Farnan
Jerome Farnan
18:06 17 May 23
Maureen is more than a mortgage broker, she's a helpful person who really wants to do what she can to make the process go smoothly. She is super knowledgeable about the mortgage business, real estate, financial trends and seemingly everything that is remotely related to mortgages. This made me very comfortable with the process and helped us greatly to coordinate the escrow people and the real estate people, and all the documents and information needed. If you get in touch with Maureen, she will start helping you before you even know what you need.
Christian Thorn
Christian Thorn
18:29 11 May 23
An amazing person to work with. Plans ahead for any hiccups in the process and is very organized. Definitely recommend her to anyone looking to purchase or refi a home!
Cam Tran
Cam Tran
18:22 11 May 23
We've bought 4 homes so far and Maureen has been the BEST lender we've worked with! She has outstanding communication and you can tell she is dedicated to her work. She was prompt, easily accessible and always willing to answer any questions we had. She was also ready to fund us for an earlier closing! If you're looking for a lender, SHE'S THE ONE!!
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