San Diego, CA vs. Washington, DC
Median rent is $2,223 a month in San Diego, CA and $1,900 in Washington, DC. Household income is $104,321 against $106,287. 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 | San Diego, CA median | Washington, DC median | vs. |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $119,600 | $156,460 | +30.8% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $42,190 | $34,600 | -18.0% |
| Retail Salespersons | $37,810 | $36,610 | -3.2% |
| Software Developers | $163,270 | $154,930 | -5.1% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $38,450 | $37,840 | -1.6% |
| Registered Nurses | $139,520 | $102,710 | -26.4% |
| Management Analysts | $101,190 | $126,830 | +25.3% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,850 | $46,040 | +28.4% |
Metropolitan areas and cover every industry together, so the two columns may describe wider areas than the city limits used for rent and income.
San Diego, CA vs Washington, DC: frequently asked questions
Is Washington, DC more expensive than San Diego, CA?
No. Prices in Washington, DC are about 2.6% lower than in San Diego, CA: a regional price level of 108.6 against 111.5, where the U.S. average is 100.
How much do I need to earn in Washington, DC to keep a $100,000 lifestyle from San Diego, CA?
About $97,400. Adjusting $100,000 by the BEA regional price levels of the two areas (111.5 in San Diego, CA, 108.6 in Washington, DC) gives the salary with the same purchasing power. Taxes and personal spending habits are not included.
Is rent cheaper in San Diego, CA or Washington, DC?
The median gross rent is $2,223 a month in San Diego, CA and $1,900 in Washington, DC, a difference of $323 a month or $3,876 a year.
Where are household incomes higher, San Diego, CA or Washington, DC?
The median household income is $104,321 in San Diego, CA and $106,287 in Washington, DC. Rent takes 25.6% of the median income in San Diego, CA and 21.5% in Washington, DC.
What salary do I need to afford the median rent in Washington, DC?
About $76,000 a year, the gross income that keeps the median rent of $1,900 a month at 30% of income. The same rule gives $88,900 in San Diego, CA.
More comparisons with San Diego, CA
More comparisons with Washington, DC
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 San Diego, CA converted into Washington, DC 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: San Diego, CA · Washington, DC