Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cedar City, UT and San Diego, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Cedar City, UT: $2,279 a month against $4,077 in San Diego, CA, rent and utilities included – about $21,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cedar City, UT
🇺🇸 United States
$2,279
/mo nomad
San Diego, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$4,077
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cedar City, UT and in San Diego, CA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cedar City, UT and in San Diego, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,279 in Cedar City, UT versus $4,077 in San Diego, CA.

  • Cedar City, UT $2,279
  • San Diego, CA $4,077

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,548 in Cedar City, UT versus $6,059 in San Diego, CA.

  • Cedar City, UT $3,548
  • San Diego, CA $6,059

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,818 in Cedar City, UT versus $8,041 in San Diego, CA.

  • Cedar City, UT $4,818
  • San Diego, CA $8,041

Living in Cedar City, UT costs roughly 44% less than in San Diego, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cedar City, UT 69% above, San Diego, CA 202% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cedar City, UT
San Diego, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.97 $23.97
$24.72 $24.72
-3.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.7 $78.7
$97.7 $97.7
-19.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.01 $15.01
$13.25 $13.25
13.28%
Cappuccino
$6.53 $6.53
$5.96 $5.96
9.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.77 $4.77
$3.12 $3.12
52.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 $2.96
$2.62 $2.62
12.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.97 $5.97
$8.14 $8.14
-26.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.09 $11.09
$11.11 $11.11
-0.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cedar City, UT
San Diego, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.37 $1.37
-21.17%
White Bread (500g)
$3.66 $3.66
$5.58 $5.58
-34.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$4.70 $4.70
-6.60%
Eggs
$3.74 $3.74
$6.77 $6.77
-44.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.35 $18.35
$17.12 $17.12
7.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.56 $15.56
$14.30 $14.30
8.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.18 $18.18
$20.72 $20.72
-12.26%
Apples (1kg)
$7.94 $7.94
$4.62 $4.62
71.86%
Banana (1kg)
$2.41 $2.41
$1.86 $1.86
29.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.79 $7.79
$4.32 $4.32
80.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.54 $3.54
$5.08 $5.08
-30.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 $1.78
$3.11 $3.11
-42.77%
Onion (1kg)
$2.36 $2.36
$2.70 $2.70
-12.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.14 $2.14
$2.12 $2.12
0.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$2.01 $2.01
16.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.16 $13.16
$11.74 $11.74
12.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.32 $22.32
$16.72 $16.72
33.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.16 $2.16
-8.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.91 $4.91
$3.20 $3.20
53.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Cedar City, UT
San Diego, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.01 $5.01
$2.47 $2.47
102.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.35 $40.35
$73.4 $73.4
-45.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.99 $2.99
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.09 $2.09
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$28.38 $28.38
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.55 $1.55
-42.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K $36.7K
$37.0K $37.0K
-0.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$25.6K $25.6K
-0.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cedar City, UT
San Diego, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$174 $174
$256 $256
-31.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.09 $33.09
$73.9 $73.9
-55.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.1 $58.1
$84.4 $84.4
-31.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cedar City, UT
San Diego, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.1 $54.1
$72.9 $72.9
-25.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$24.09 $24.09
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.28 $11.28
$20.21 $20.21
-44.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cedar City, UT
San Diego, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$1,968 $1,968
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$36.0K $36.0K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cedar City, UT
San Diego, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0 $57.0
$68.4 $68.4
-16.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.36 $49.36
$54.7 $54.7
-9.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 $99.9
$114 $114
-12.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147 $147
$146 $146
0.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cedar City, UT
San Diego, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,043 $1,043
$3,210 $3,210
-67.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$838 $838
$2,410 $2,410
-65.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,901 $1,901
$5,499 $5,499
-65.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,587 $1,587
$4,336 $4,336
-63.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,643 $2,643
$8,110 $8,110
-67.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,701 $2,701
$6,682 $6,682
-59.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cedar City, UT
San Diego, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,489 $3,489
$4,975 $4,975
-29.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.19
6.7
7.31%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Cedar City, UT: October 12, 2026

Last update for San Diego, CA: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cedar City, UT
$838
San Diego, CA
$2.4K 188% $1.6K
Groceries & Markets
Cedar City, UT
$481
San Diego, CA
$475 1.2% $5.9
Eating Out
Cedar City, UT
$398
San Diego, CA
$395 0.8% $3.3
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cedar City, UT
$266
San Diego, CA
$414 56.1% $149
Clothing & Footwear
Cedar City, UT
$159
San Diego, CA
$172 8.5% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Cedar City, UT
$77
San Diego, CA
$113 47.8% $37
Getting Around
Cedar City, UT
$60 *
San Diego, CA
$97 60.2% $36

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,043 in Cedar City, UT and $3,210 in San Diego, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Diego, CA pays 43% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $79.0 in Cedar City, UT vs $98.0 in San Diego, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $481 vs $475, with San Diego, CA cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Cedar City, UT
🇺🇸 San Diego, CA
🕒 Local time
18:16 6:16 PM
17:16 5:16 PM
1 h behind Cedar City, UT
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
28,857
1,386,932
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cedar City, UT San Diego, CA 670 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Cedar City, UT
  • San Diego, CA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Cedar City, UT vs San Diego, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Diego, CA cheaper than Cedar City, UT?
Cedar City, UT is cheaper overall, especially in clothing, utilities, and leisure. The 79% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cedar City, UT or San Diego, CA?
On paper, salaries run 43% lower in San Diego, CA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Cedar City, UT and San Diego, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,043 in Cedar City, UT versus $3,210 in San Diego, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Cedar City, UT or in San Diego, CA?
Dining out is cheaper in Cedar City, UT – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $98.0 in San Diego, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Cedar City, UT runs roughly 82% less than in San Diego, CA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Cedar City, UT or in San Diego, CA?
At $2,279 in Cedar City, UT versus $4,077 in San Diego, CA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Cedar City, UT but tight or insufficient in San Diego, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Cedar City, UT the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cedar City, UT or San Diego, CA more family-friendly?
For families, Cedar City, UT is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in San Diego, CA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cedar City, UT or San Diego, CA?
Safety-wise, Cedar City, UT and San Diego, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cedar City, UT gentler on the wallet – expenses run 79% less than in San Diego, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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