Cost of Living Comparison Between San Diego, CA and Newark, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between San Diego, CA and Newark, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,101 in San Diego, CA versus $3,016 in Newark, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,179 in San Diego, CA versus $4,549 in Newark, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,258 in San Diego, CA versus $6,082 in Newark, NJ.

Living in San Diego, CA is roughly 36% more expensive than in Newark, NJ, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: San Diego, CA 198% above, Newark, NJ 120% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.27 $30.27

$20.26 $20.26

49.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

0.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.87 $14.87

$13.32 $13.32

11.64%

Cappuccino

$6.22 $6.22

$6.45 $6.45

-3.57%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 $3.33

$4.01 $4.01

-16.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.52 $2.52

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.21 $8.21

$8.04 $8.04

2.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.23 $12.23

$9.81 $9.81

24.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.33 $1.33

2.26%

White Bread (500g)

$5.40 $5.40

$4.72 $4.72

14.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.90 $4.90

$7.02 $7.02

-30.20%

Eggs

$7.01 $7.01

$5.82 $5.82

20.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.52 $17.52

$7.04 $7.04

148.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.12 $13.12

$14.90 $14.90

-11.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.17 $20.17

$20.24 $20.24

-0.35%

Apples (1kg)

$4.64 $4.64

$6.12 $6.12

-24.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 $1.83

$3.37 $3.37

-45.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.30 $4.30

$5.62 $5.62

-23.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.08 $5.08

$6.15 $6.15

-17.40%

Potato (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$3.45 $3.45

-5.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$4.06 $4.06

-33.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.69 $2.69

-23.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.47 $2.47

-12.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.75 $11.75

$11.95 $11.95

-1.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.57 $16.57

$19.67 $19.67

-15.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.92 $1.92

15.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.73 $2.73

14.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.46 $2.46

$5.95 $5.95

-58.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.3 $73.3

$55.2 $55.2

32.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 $2.97

$3.08 $3.08

-3.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.12 $2.12

-1.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.84 $27.84

$42.50 $42.50

-34.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.02 $1.02

46.08%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.7K $36.7K

$35.9K $35.9K

2.15%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.2K $26.2K

-3.24%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$252 $252

$203 $203

24.01%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$73.8 $73.8

$71.8 $71.8

2.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.9 $85.9

$74.9 $74.9

14.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.0 $69.0

$29.81 $29.81

131.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.99 $22.99

$17.68 $17.68

30.03%

Cinema Ticket

$19.62 $19.62

$14.58 $14.58

34.57%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,924 $1,924

$2,133 $2,133

-9.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$36.2K $36.2K

$61.3K $61.3K

-40.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.1 $69.1

$59.3 $59.3

16.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.4 $57.4

$27.86 $27.86

106.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$114 $114

1.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$126 $126

16.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,282 $3,282

$2,318 $2,318

41.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,410 $2,410

$1,541 $1,541

56.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,352 $5,352

$4,221 $4,221

26.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,382 $4,382

$2,609 $2,609

67.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,237 $8,237

$5,541 $5,541

48.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,501 $6,501

$5,546 $5,546

17.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,072 $5,072

$3,590 $3,590

41.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.52

6.4

1.87%

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

Last update for San Diego, CA: August 29, 2026

Last update for Newark, NJ: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,282 in San Diego, CA and $2,318 in Newark, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Diego, CA pays 41% 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: $101 in San Diego, CA vs $101 in Newark, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $471 vs $486 per month, with San Diego, CA cheaper across the board.

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

San Diego, CA vs Newark, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Newark, NJ is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 41% higher in San Diego, CA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $3,282 in San Diego, CA versus $2,318 in Newark, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Newark, NJ runs roughly 33% less than in San Diego, CA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,924 in San Diego, CA versus $2,133 in Newark, NJ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Newark, NJ is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Newark, NJ 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.

Safety-wise, San Diego, CA and Newark, NJ are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Newark, NJ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in San Diego, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.