CostIndexUSA

San Diego, CA vs Vallejo, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
San Diego
111.9
overall index
$2,875/mo rent
More AffordableCA
Vallejo
108.5
overall index
$2,375/mo rent

Vallejo is slightly cheaper than San Diego — 3.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in San Diego, you would need $77,600 in Vallejo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing20.8%
San Diego
179.3
Vallejo
142
🛒 Groceries2.6%
San Diego
108
Vallejo
105.2
🚗 Transportation+0.7%
San Diego
104.6
Vallejo
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+0.7%
San Diego
94.6
Vallejo
95.3
Utilities11.0%
San Diego
174.2
Vallejo
155

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Vallejo, CA
$77,600
$2,400 less needed in Vallejo

Formula: salary × (108.5 ÷ 111.9) = salary × 0.9696. 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×

Vallejo, CA

Median Home Price
$567,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,375
Housing Index
142
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.9×

San Diego has 20.8% lower housing costs compared to Vallejo.

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

Vallejo, CA

Median Household Income
$100,000
Per Capita Income
$57,000
Unemployment Rate
4.9%
Population
121,253
Top Industries
HealthcareMilitaryManufacturingRetailGovernment

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)

Vallejo, CA
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

72% 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.