CostIndexUSA

San Diego, CA vs Sarasota, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
San Diego
111.9
overall index
$2,875/mo rent
More AffordableFL
Sarasota
102.4
overall index
$1,925/mo rent

Sarasota is moderately cheaper than San Diego — 8.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in San Diego, you would need $73,200 in Sarasota. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing28.6%
San Diego
179.3
Sarasota
128
🛒 Groceries10.9%
San Diego
108
Sarasota
96.2
🚗 Transportation0.8%
San Diego
104.6
Sarasota
103.8
🏥 Healthcare0.7%
San Diego
94.6
Sarasota
93.9
Utilities49.4%
San Diego
174.2
Sarasota
88.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Sarasota, FL
$73,200
$6,800 less needed in Sarasota

Formula: salary × (102.4 ÷ 111.9) = salary × 0.9151. 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×

Sarasota, FL

Median Home Price
$445,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,925
Housing Index
128
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.3×

San Diego has 28.6% lower housing costs compared to Sarasota.

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

Sarasota, FL

Median Household Income
$78,900
Per Capita Income
$45,000
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
57,738
Top Industries
TourismHealthcareReal EstateFinanceArts

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)

Sarasota, FL
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.