Cost of Living Comparison Between San Diego, CA and Sacramento, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between San Diego, CA and Sacramento, CA

😐 Solo nomad: San Diego, CA is 1.2% more expensive than Sacramento, CA without rent, and 16.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: San Diego, CA is 0.9% more expensive than Sacramento, CA without rent, and 17.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.31 $23.31

$19.82 $19.82

17.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.2 $98.2

$78.6 $78.6

24.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.92 $14.92

$10.45 $10.45

42.78%

Cappuccino

$5.94 $5.94

$5.57 $5.57

6.64%

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

$3.09 $3.09

$2.56 $2.56

20.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.11 $2.11

18.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.01 $8.01

$7.91 $7.91

1.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.78 $8.78

$8.17 $8.17

7.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.23 $1.23

-1.63%

White Bread (500g)

$4.49 $4.49

$4.31 $4.31

4.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$5.54 $5.54

-18.95%

Eggs

$5.3 $5.3

$4.49 $4.49

18.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.48 $13.48

$15.58 $15.58

-13.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.59 $12.59

$15.18 $15.18

-17.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.82 $18.82

$18.87 $18.87

-0.26%

Apples (1kg)

$4.7 $4.7

$5.2 $5.2

-9.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.01 $2.01

-14.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$4.13 $4.13

-1.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$6.79 $6.79

-28.42%

Potato (1kg)

$3.07 $3.07

$3.61 $3.61

-14.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.46 $2.46

$4.69 $4.69

-47.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.7 $2.7

-18.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.38 $2.38

-0.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.06 $12.06

$11.58 $11.58

4.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.89 $14.89

$15.35 $15.35

-3.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$2.14 $2.14

-14.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.82 $2.82

-9.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.46 $2.46

2.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.2 $72.2

$102 $102

-28.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 $3.02

$3.94 $3.94

-23.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.82 $1.82

10.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.53 $27.53

$27.33 $27.33

0.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.3 $1.3

$1.26 $1.26

3.17%

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

$31.5K $31.5K

$29.5K $29.5K

6.59%

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

$27.4K $27.4K

$28.5K $28.5K

-3.87%

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

$273 $273

$331 $331

-17.42%

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

$68.2 $68.2

$59.9 $59.9

13.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$79 $79

$73.7 $73.7

7.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.9 $66.9

$45.56 $45.56

46.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.88 $24.88

$29.86 $29.86

-16.68%

Cinema Ticket

$16.12 $16.12

$14.24 $14.24

13.20%

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

$1,650 $1,650

$1,706 $1,706

-3.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.8K $28.8K

$27.3K $27.3K

5.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.2 $59.2

0.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.9 $57.9

$65.3 $65.3

-11.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$93.9 $93.9

7.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$129 $129

-9.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,790 $2,790

$2,064 $2,064

35.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,397 $2,397

$1,701 $1,701

40.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,934 $4,934

$3,509 $3,509

40.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,077 $4,077

$2,847 $2,847

43.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,248 $9,248

$4,749 $4,749

94.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,978 $6,978

$3,787 $3,787

84.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,519 $5,519

$4,428 $4,428

24.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

6.57

-2.74%

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

Last update for San Diego, CA: November 30, 2025

Last update for Sacramento, CA: December 1, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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