CostIndexUSA

Palm Bay, FL vs San Diego, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableFL
Palm Bay
100
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
CA
San Diego
111.9
overall index
$2,875/mo rent

Palm Bay is moderately cheaper than San Diego — 11.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Palm Bay, you would need $89,500 in San Diego. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+60.5%
Palm Bay
111.7
San Diego
179.3
🛒 Groceries+12.3%
Palm Bay
96.2
San Diego
108
🚗 Transportation+0.8%
Palm Bay
103.8
San Diego
104.6
🏥 Healthcare+0.7%
Palm Bay
93.9
San Diego
94.6
Utilities+97.7%
Palm Bay
88.1
San Diego
174.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Palm Bay to see what you'd need to earn in San Diego to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in San Diego, CA
$89,500
$9,500 more needed in San Diego

Formula: salary × (111.9 ÷ 100) = salary × 1.1190. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Palm Bay, FL

Median Home Price
$336,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
111.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.9×

San Diego, CA

Median Home Price
$904,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,875
Housing Index
179.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.2×

San Diego has 60.5% higher housing costs compared to Palm Bay.

Income & Job Market

Palm Bay, FL

Median Household Income
$78,600
Per Capita Income
$44,800
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
119,760
Top Industries
AerospaceHealthcareTechnologyManufacturingRetail

San Diego, CA

Median Household Income
$103,700
Per Capita Income
$59,100
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
1,386,932
Top Industries
MilitaryTechnologyTourismBiotechnologyHealthcare

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Palm Bay, FL
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

San Diego, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.