Anaheim, CA vs. San Diego, CA
Median rent is $2,082 a month in Anaheim, CA and $2,223 in San Diego, CA. Household income is $90,583 against $104,321. Both cities are read from the same ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates and the same BEA Regional Price Parities 2023, so the two columns below are directly comparable.
A green or red badge means the second city is higher or lower, not better or worse: a lower rent is good for a tenant, a lower household income is not. For the price level and
the share of income the raw values are shown, because a percentage difference between two
percentages is easy to misread.
What the gap means
Occupation wages in both metros
May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Metropolitan areas may differ from city boundaries.
| Occupation | Anaheim, CA median | San Diego, CA median | vs. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $42,110 | $42,190 | +0.2% |
| Retail Salespersons | $37,700 | $37,810 | +0.3% |
| Registered Nurses | $135,560 | $139,520 | +2.9% |
| General and Operations Managers | $125,830 | $119,600 | -5.0% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,850 | $35,850 | 0.0% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $38,720 | $38,450 | -0.7% |
| Accountants and Auditors | $94,360 | $96,340 | +2.1% |
| Customer Service Representatives | $48,840 | $48,730 | -0.2% |
Metropolitan areas and cover every industry together, so the two columns may describe wider areas than the city limits used for rent and income.
Anaheim, CA vs San Diego, CA: frequently asked questions
Is San Diego, CA more expensive than Anaheim, CA?
No. Prices in San Diego, CA are about 1.0% lower than in Anaheim, CA: a regional price level of 111.5 against 112.6, where the U.S. average is 100.
How much do I need to earn in San Diego, CA to keep a $100,000 lifestyle from Anaheim, CA?
About $99,000. Adjusting $100,000 by the BEA regional price levels of the two areas (112.6 in Anaheim, CA, 111.5 in San Diego, CA) gives the salary with the same purchasing power. Taxes and personal spending habits are not included.
Is rent cheaper in Anaheim, CA or San Diego, CA?
The median gross rent is $2,082 a month in Anaheim, CA and $2,223 in San Diego, CA, a difference of $141 a month or $1,692 a year.
Where are household incomes higher, Anaheim, CA or San Diego, CA?
The median household income is $90,583 in Anaheim, CA and $104,321 in San Diego, CA. Rent takes 27.6% of the median income in Anaheim, CA and 25.6% in San Diego, CA.
What salary do I need to afford the median rent in San Diego, CA?
About $88,900 a year, the gross income that keeps the median rent of $2,223 a month at 30% of income. The same rule gives $83,300 in Anaheim, CA.
More comparisons with Anaheim, CA
More comparisons with San Diego, CA
Definitions used on this page
- Salary needed for the median rent
- Twelve months of median gross rent divided by 0.30: the income that keeps the median rent at 30% of gross pay.
- Price level
- BEA regional price parity for the metro area where one is published, otherwise for the state. The national average is 100.
- Same standard of living
- A salary in Anaheim, CA converted into San Diego, CA at the ratio of the two price levels. It adjusts for prices only, not for taxes or for what either city offers.
- Buying power
- One hundred divided by the price level: what a dollar buys locally relative to the national average.
Sources
- Census Bureau — ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates
- Census Bureau — ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates
- BEA — BEA Regional Price Parities 2023
Margins of error are published for every Census figure. Read the methodology before reading a small gap between two cities as a real difference.
Full detail for each city: Anaheim, CA · San Diego, CA