Cost of Living Comparison Between San Diego, CA and Philadelphia, PA 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Philadelphia, PA is 1.7% lower than in San Diego, CA (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Philadelphia, PA is 18.5% lower than in San Diego, CA | |
| Rent Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 40.4% lower than in San Diego, CA | |
| Restaurant Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 15.3% lower than in San Diego, CA | |
| Groceries Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 5.4% higher than in San Diego, CA | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Philadelphia, PA is 4.1% higher than in San Diego, CA | |
Restaurants | San Diego, CA Edit |
Philadelphia, PA Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | $25.00 | $22.00 | -12.0 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | $93.50 | $80.00 | -14.4 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | $15.00 | $12.65 | -15.7 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | $9.00 | $6.00 | -33.3 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | $10.00 | $7.00 | -30.0 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | $6.10 | $5.22 | -14.6 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | $3.20 | $3.01 | -6.1 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | $2.72 | $2.12 | -22.1 % |
Markets | San Diego, CA Edit |
Philadelphia, PA Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | $1.40 | $1.44 | +2.7 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | $4.71 | $4.02 | -14.6 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | $2.00 | $4.04 | +102.7 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | $7.53 | $5.34 | -29.1 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | $7.23 | $6.14 | -15.0 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | $5.68 | $6.27 | +10.4 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | $9.35 | $8.50 | -9.1 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | $1.98 | $2.67 | +34.9 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | $0.81 | $0.92 | +13.5 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | $1.87 | $2.32 | +23.8 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | $2.15 | $2.53 | +18.0 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | $1.35 | $1.35 | -0.5 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | $1.19 | $1.42 | +19.2 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | $2.08 | $2.44 | +16.9 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | $2.27 | $2.49 | +9.7 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | $15.00 | $15.00 | 0.0 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | $2.18 | $2.26 | +3.6 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | $3.03 | $4.37 | +43.9 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | $11.71 | $13.00 | +11.0 % |
Transportation | San Diego, CA Edit |
Philadelphia, PA Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | $2.50 | $2.90 | +16.0 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | $72.00 | $100.00 | +38.9 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | $3.00 | $2.85 | -5.0 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | $3.32 | $2.51 | -24.3 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | $28.00 | $24.00 | -14.3 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | $1.45 | $1.01 | -30.5 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | $36,998.00 | $36,446.00 | -1.5 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | $25,808.06 | $25,700.04 | -0.4 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | San Diego, CA Edit |
Philadelphia, PA Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | $246.40 | $239.00 | -3.0 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | $69.56 | $64.00 | -8.0 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | $83.89 | $70.73 | -15.7 % |
Sports And Leisure | San Diego, CA Edit |
Philadelphia, PA Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | $60.36 | $82.11 | +36.0 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | $25.00 | $92.67 | +270.7 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | $19.83 | $16.00 | -19.3 % |
Childcare | San Diego, CA Edit |
Philadelphia, PA Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | $1,948.90 | $2,204.79 | +13.1 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | $36,280.62 | $42,123.57 | +16.1 % |
Clothing And Shoes | San Diego, CA Edit |
Philadelphia, PA Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | $69.75 | $49.39 | -29.2 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | $57.28 | $47.18 | -17.6 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | $113.75 | $99.56 | -12.5 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | $134.13 | $135.15 | +0.8 % |
Rent Per Month | San Diego, CA Edit |
Philadelphia, PA Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | $3,372.50 | $1,943.93 | -42.4 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | $2,711.88 | $1,300.25 | -52.1 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | $5,310.59 | $4,021.67 | -24.3 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | $4,496.15 | $2,208.89 | -50.9 % |
Buy Apartment Price | San Diego, CA Edit |
Philadelphia, PA Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | $751.89 | $379.58 | -49.5 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | $615.50 | $174.72 | -71.6 % |
Salaries And Financing | San Diego, CA Edit |
Philadelphia, PA Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | $5,217.10 | $4,426.65 | -15.2 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.26 | 6.31 | +0.8 % |
| Last update: | 5 June 2026 | 5 June 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 99 | 93 | |
Moving to San Diego, CA? Explore:
Moving to Philadelphia, PA? Explore:
Cities near San Diego, CA: | Cost of Living in Dana Point, California | 65.05 miles |
| Cost of Living in Irvine, California | 84.59 miles |
| Cost of Living in Santa Ana, California | 89.45 miles |
| Cost of Living in Westminster, California | 94.67 miles |
| Cost of Living in Huntington Beach, California | 95.47 miles |
| Cost of Living in Anaheim, California | 96.10 miles |
| Cost of Living in Riverside, California | 101.37 miles |
| Cost of Living in Long Beach, California | 105.35 miles |
| Cost of Living in San Bernardino, California | 106.85 miles |
| Cost of Living in Fontana, California | 108.10 miles |
Cities near Philadelphia, PA: | Cost of Living in Chester, Pennsylvania | 15.53 miles |
| Cost of Living in Sicklerville, New Jersey | 23.05 miles |
| Cost of Living in Levittown, Pennsylvania | 26.86 miles |
| Cost of Living in Browns Mills, New Jersey | 32.93 miles |
| Cost of Living in Bridgeton, New Jersey | 42.29 miles |
| Cost of Living in Princeton, New Jersey | 44.86 miles |
| Cost of Living in Barnegat, New Jersey | 51.99 miles |
| Cost of Living in Allentown, Pennsylvania | 61.40 miles |
| Cost of Living in Lakewood Township, New Jersey | 66.98 miles |
| Cost of Living in Woodbridge, New Jersey | 70.62 miles |