Los Angeles vs San Diego: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison

Los Angeles's typical home is worth $822,600, 5% higher than the typical home in San Diego at $783,300.

Median household income is $76,244 in Los Angeles versus $98,657 in San Diego.

Typical rent runs $1,791 in Los Angeles and $2,080 in San Diego.

FEMA's National Risk Index puts both cities at "Very High" for overall natural-hazard risk.

Metric	Los Angeles, CA	San Diego, CA
Population	3,881,041	1,383,987
Median home value	$822,600	$783,300
Median household income	$76,244	$98,657
Median gross rent	$1,791	$2,080
Climate risk (FEMA)	Very High	Very High

There's no single winner on housing costs — San Diego, CA is cheaper by home value, Los Angeles, CA is cheaper by rent.

Moving between Los Angeles and San Diego

Los Angeles and San Diego are 111 miles apart in a straight line.

What changes when you move	Los Angeles → San Diego	San Diego → Los Angeles
Median rent	+$289/mo (+16%)	−$289/mo (−14%)
Median home value	−$39,300 (−5%)	+$39,300 (+5%)
Median household income	+$22,413 (+29%)	−$22,413 (−23%)

Estimated moving cost (either direction)

Home size	Estimated cost
Studio / 1-bedroom	$548 – $836
2-3 bedroom	$1,689 – $2,559
4+ bedroom house	$3,135 – $4,741

Estimates based on typical per-mile and per-room moving-industry rates; actual quotes vary by mover, season, and access. Not a quote from any specific company.

Los Angeles, CA San Diego, CA

128 miles estimated driving distance · 2.1 hours of highway driving

DIY Truck Rental

$257 – $329

Includes an estimated $45 in fuel (13 gal at ~10 mpg) over 1 driving day.

Professional Movers

$1,420 – $2,260

Full-service crew, loading and unloading included.

Estimates based on typical rental-truck, fuel, and professional-mover industry rates; actual quotes vary by carrier, season, and access. Not a quote from any specific company.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey; FEMA National Risk Index

Data last updated July 2026.