San Diego, California
Overall Score 6.2/10
Darcie Czajkowski|
What’s it like to live in San Diego, CA?
San Diego residents recognize how fortunate they are to live in an area famous for its sunny weather and impressive beaches. But there is much more to this Southern California beach city than initially meets the eye.
Lifestyles vary depending on whether you seek a beach, or an urban or suburban environment. Regardless, residents do not want for things to do, ranging from outdoor activities to museums to entertainment venues.
San Diego offers world-class dining, professional sports and entertainment options typical of a large metro area, but the patchwork of distinct neighborhoods fosters strong community ties. Residents gather at festivals and farmers markets, meet friends at beaches and parks, and regularly bump into friends and acquaintances at local bars and restaurants.
See all the best places to live in California.
What is there to do in San Diego, CA?
Health is important to San Diegans, and the temperate weather facilitates an active outdoor lifestyle. Hiking trails, both coastal and inland, abound. Cycling, tennis and golf are also popular forms of exercise. San Diegans often spend their weekends at the beach. Boating, beach volleyball and sunbathing are common beach activities.
Further inland, Balboa Park is the cultural hub of San Diego, encompassing several museums and impressive Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. Meanwhile, animal lovers do not want for activities, thanks to the world-renowned San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld.
Every July, San Diego is invaded by thousands of costumed comic fans who flock to San Diego Comic-Con, the world's largest entertainment and comic book convention. Featuring celebrities, comic book writers and artists, the event takes over downtown for multiple days, drawing more than 130,000 attendees.
What’s the cost of living in San Diego, CA?
Living in San Diego is not particularly affordable. Home prices are considerably higher than the national median sale price. Additionally, many living in the downtown area have to pay homeowners association fees, used to maintain common areas in apartment and condominium complexes. San Diegans are willing to pay these elevated prices, though, often referring to the cost-of-living differences as the "sunshine tax," or the price of enjoying a year-round temperate climate.
Best Local Services in San Diego:
San Diego offers a lower value than similarly sized metro areas when you compare housing costs to median household income.
Housing Costs 2022
- National Average
- $383,883
- San Diego, CA
- $919,507
Housing Costs Over Time
Data sourced from Zillow median home sale price data series. Additional data provided by the Austin Board of Realtors, Houston Association of Realtors, Intermountain MLS, Omaha Area Board of Realtors, San Antonio Board of Realtors, and the Salt Lake Board of Realtors. Due to differences within the data source, home prices are not comparable across metro areas.
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What’s the weather like in San Diego, CA?
The moderate climate, which enables perpetual enjoyment of the metro area's beaches and other outdoor attractions, is a big draw for many. Aside from in the mountains of East County, snow isn't common in San Diego.
Average Seasonal Temperature (°F)
- WINTER
- 57.2°
- FALL
- 66.2°
- SPRING
- 61.7°
- SUMMER
- 69.3°
Average Seasonal Rainfall (in)
- WINTER
- 2.3"
- FALL
- 1"
- SPRING
- 1.8"
- SUMMER
- 0.1"
Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center.
Monthly High and Low Temperature (°F)
Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center.
What's the best way to get around San Diego, CA?
San Diego is expansive, and for the most part, getting around requires a car. Residents experience congestion during rush hours in certain pockets on the main highways, including Interstate 5, which runs along the coast. But traffic in San Diego is still among the most manageable of the nation's largest metro areas.
Some residents use a local commuter train called the Coaster to travel from North County to downtown. Additionally, San Diego has a trolley system that circles the downtown area and stretches as far south as San Ysidro. San Diego is also serviced by a reliable citywide bus system. While these modes of transportation provide options for residents, only a small portion of the population uses them.
San Diego International Airport is conveniently located just north of downtown and services both national and international destinations. Also, Amtrak has a line that connects San Diego to Los Angeles and beyond.
San Diego is expansive, and for the most part, getting around requires a car. Residents experience congestion during rush hours in certain pockets on the main highways, including Interstate 5, which runs along the coast. But traffic in San Diego is still among the most manageable of the nation's largest metro areas.
Some residents use a local commuter train called the Coaster to travel from North County to downtown. Additionally, San Diego has a trolley system that circles the downtown area and stretches as far south as San Ysidro. San Diego is also serviced by a reliable citywide bus system. While these modes of transportation provide options for residents, only a small portion of the population uses them.
San Diego International Airport is conveniently located just north of downtown and services both national and international destinations. Also, Amtrak has a line that connects San Diego to Los Angeles and beyond.
Commuting in San Diego, CA
- Average Commute Time
- 26.3 minutes
0.5 minutes less than national average.
81.8%
4.2%
2.5%
0.5%
Driving
Public Transit
Walking
Bicycling
Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Who lives in San Diego, CA?
San Diego is home to a relatively young population due in part to the area's ability to attract young professionals, with its higher education opportunities and big-city amenities. North County is desirable for families, thanks to quiet neighborhoods with larger homes, whereas 20-somethings are moving downtown and to communities to the northeast as a result of the diverse entertainment options centralized in those areas.
Age Distribution
Marital Status Breakdown
About the same number of single people in San Diego as national average.
Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Marital Status Breakdown
About the same number of single people in San Diego as national average.
Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey.