CostIndexUSA

San Diego, CA vs Santa Clarita, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableCA
San Diego
111.9
overall index
$2,875/mo rent
CA
Santa Clarita
113.6
overall index
$2,550/mo rent

San Diego is slightly cheaper than Santa Clarita — 1.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in San Diego, you would need $81,200 in Santa Clarita. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing5.0%
San Diego
179.3
Santa Clarita
170.4
🛒 Groceries1.3%
San Diego
108
Santa Clarita
106.6
🚗 Transportation+4.8%
San Diego
104.6
Santa Clarita
109.6
🏥 Healthcare+4.8%
San Diego
94.6
Santa Clarita
99.1
Utilities9.0%
San Diego
174.2
Santa Clarita
158.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Santa Clarita, CA
$81,200
$1,200 more needed in Santa Clarita

Formula: salary × (113.6 ÷ 111.9) = salary × 1.0152. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

San Diego, CA

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

Santa Clarita, CA

Median Home Price
$565,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,550
Housing Index
170.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

San Diego has 5.0% lower housing costs compared to Santa Clarita.

Income & Job Market

San Diego, CA

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

Santa Clarita, CA

Median Household Income
$92,000
Per Capita Income
$52,400
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
228,673
Top Industries
EntertainmentHealthcareManufacturingRetailFinance

Affordability at a Glance

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

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

67% of income left after rent (median)

Santa Clarita, 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.