Cost of Living Comparison Between San Diego, CA and Phoenix, AZ 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Phoenix, AZ is 8.6% lower than in San Diego, CA (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Phoenix, AZ is 24.4% lower than in San Diego, CA | |
| Rent Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 45.3% lower than in San Diego, CA | |
| Restaurant Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 10.3% lower than in San Diego, CA | |
| Groceries Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 2.2% lower than in San Diego, CA | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Phoenix, AZ is 3.0% lower than in San Diego, CA | |
Restaurants | San Diego, CA Edit |
Phoenix, AZ Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | 24.00 $ | 20.00 $ | -16.7 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | 97.00 $ | 90.00 $ | -7.2 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | 15.00 $ | 12.49 $ | -16.7 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | 8.00 $ | 6.00 $ | -25.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 10.00 $ | 8.00 $ | -20.0 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | 5.84 $ | 6.43 $ | +10.1 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | 3.04 $ | 2.84 $ | -6.4 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | 2.52 $ | 2.26 $ | -10.5 % |
Markets | San Diego, CA Edit |
Phoenix, AZ Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | 1.23 $ | 0.88 $ | -28.7 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | 4.18 $ | 3.92 $ | -6.4 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | 2.00 $ | 2.41 $ | +20.8 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | 5.79 $ | 4.98 $ | -14.0 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | 7.11 $ | 6.38 $ | -10.3 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | 5.94 $ | 5.84 $ | -1.6 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | 9.17 $ | 6.85 $ | -25.3 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | 2.01 $ | 2.40 $ | +19.5 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | 0.81 $ | 0.82 $ | +0.4 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | 1.87 $ | 1.93 $ | +2.8 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | 2.10 $ | 3.00 $ | +43.3 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | 1.36 $ | 1.55 $ | +13.9 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | 1.12 $ | 1.50 $ | +34.1 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | 2.27 $ | 2.24 $ | -1.0 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | 2.32 $ | 2.39 $ | +3.3 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 15.00 $ | 15.00 $ | 0.0 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | 1.94 $ | 2.33 $ | +20.1 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 3.47 $ | 2.78 $ | -19.9 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | 11.71 $ | 10.69 $ | -8.7 % |
Transportation | San Diego, CA Edit |
Phoenix, AZ Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | 2.50 $ | 2.00 $ | -20.0 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | 72.00 $ | 64.00 $ | -11.1 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | 3.00 $ | 2.75 $ | -8.3 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | 3.32 $ | 2.22 $ | -33.0 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | 28.00 $ | 36.00 $ | +28.6 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | 1.27 $ | 0.93 $ | -26.5 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | 36,998.00 $ | 36,293.00 $ | -1.9 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | 25,897.85 $ | 25,841.94 $ | -0.2 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | San Diego, CA Edit |
Phoenix, AZ Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 247.64 $ | 272.66 $ | +10.1 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | 69.05 $ | 70.41 $ | +2.0 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | 84.86 $ | 82.33 $ | -3.0 % |
Sports And Leisure | San Diego, CA Edit |
Phoenix, AZ Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | 62.10 $ | 44.76 $ | -27.9 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | 25.00 $ | 19.17 $ | -23.3 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | 16.75 $ | 13.50 $ | -19.4 % |
Childcare | San Diego, CA Edit |
Phoenix, AZ Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | 2,008.09 $ | 1,668.00 $ | -16.9 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | 36,280.62 $ | 24,512.50 $ | -32.4 % |
Clothing And Shoes | San Diego, CA Edit |
Phoenix, AZ Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | 65.14 $ | 58.63 $ | -10.0 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | 56.00 $ | 47.95 $ | -14.4 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 109.94 $ | 99.24 $ | -9.7 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | 132.50 $ | 120.77 $ | -8.9 % |
Rent Per Month | San Diego, CA Edit |
Phoenix, AZ Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 3,265.29 $ | 1,799.23 $ | -44.9 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 2,718.12 $ | 1,410.84 $ | -48.1 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 5,299.09 $ | 3,053.12 $ | -42.4 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 4,210.42 $ | 2,214.11 $ | -47.4 % |
Buy Apartment Price | San Diego, CA Edit |
Phoenix, AZ Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 807.67 $ | 443.70 $ | -45.1 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 632.75 $ | 303.33 $ | -52.1 % |
Salaries And Financing | San Diego, CA Edit |
Phoenix, AZ Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 5,472.90 $ | 4,012.89 $ | -26.7 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.36 | 6.55 | +3.0 % |
| Last update: | 1 April 2026 | 31 March 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 100 | 79 | |
Moving to San Diego, CA? Explore:
Moving to Phoenix, AZ? 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 Phoenix, AZ: | Cost of Living in Scottsdale, Arizona | 12.83 miles |
| Cost of Living in Peoria, Arizona | 13.45 miles |
| Cost of Living in Apache Junction, Arizona | 35.29 miles |
| Cost of Living in Cottonwood, Arizona | 103.09 miles |
| Cost of Living in Tucson, Arizona | 116.20 miles |
| Cost of Living in Indio, California | 246.45 miles |
| Cost of Living in Imperial, California | 248.19 miles |