Cost of Living: San Diego, CA vs San Marcos, CA
Quick rent-and-take-home comparison
Using a baseline of $70,000/yr gross, take-home is about $3,974/mo in San Diego, CA versus $3,974/mo in San Marcos, CA. In the model, rent is about 32.4% of gross in San Diego, CA versus 31.92% in San Marcos, CA, so San Marcos, CA tends to feel more affordable for rent.
Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between San Diego, CA and San Marcos, CA.
At a glance
- Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): San Marcos, CA
- Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): San Marcos, CA
- Lower home prices: San Marcos, CA
- Higher median household income: San Marcos, CA
Cost of Living Index
San Diego, CA: 142.3 (U.S. = 100) · San Marcos, CA: 100 (U.S. = 100)
San Marcos, CA has a lower cost-of-living index than San Diego, CA, so a given salary generally stretches further there.
Median Rent
San Diego, CA: $2,112/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · San Marcos, CA: $2,082/mo
Median rent in San Diego, CA is $30/mo higher than in San Marcos, CA.
Median Home Price
San Diego, CA: $848,500 · San Marcos, CA: $792,400
Median home price in San Diego, CA is $56,100 higher than in San Marcos, CA.
Median Household Income
San Diego, CA: $104,321 · San Marcos, CA: $105,286
San Marcos, CA has a higher median household income than San Diego, CA by $965.
San Diego, CA overview · San Marcos, CA overview · Popular comparisons