Living Cost Compare
Columbus

Ohio

$1,250/mo est.

vs
San Diego

California

$2,210/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,250 in Columbus, OH versus $2,210 in San Diego, CA. Overall, Columbus, OH is roughly 43% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Diego, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,327 in Columbus, OH and $104,321 in San Diego, CA — about 37% higher in San Diego, CA. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Columbus, OH
San Diego, CA

Rent

Studio
$1,014
$1,737
+71% in San Diego, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,059
$1,883
+78% in San Diego, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,276
$2,348
+84% in San Diego, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,369
$2,818
+106% in San Diego, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$234,500
$848,500
+262% in San Diego, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$65,327
$104,321
+60% in San Diego, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,340
$58,690
+14% in San Diego, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
36.0 yr
+3.0 yr in San Diego, CA
Homeownership
44.3%
47.6%
+3.3 pp in San Diego, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.2%
49.9%
+11.7 pp in San Diego, CA
Avg Commute
21.8 min
23.9 min
+2.1 min in San Diego, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
484.8
414.1
+15% in Columbus, OH
Property Crime
3,092.7
1,693.1
+45% in Columbus, OH

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
63.6°F
+10.9°F in San Diego, CA
Annual Precipitation
40.1 in
10.3 in
+29.8 in in Columbus, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.56/gal
$5.91/gal
+30% in San Diego, CA

Area: Ohio vs California.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$2.50
+25% in San Diego, CA

Adult base one-way fare — COTA vs MTS (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.8
33.4
+78% in San Diego, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.75
$20.72
+51% in San Diego, CA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.37
+6% in San Diego, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.79
$2.10
+17% in San Diego, CA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.25
+38% in Columbus, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.97
$7.23
+4% in San Diego, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.15
$2.14
+1% in Columbus, OH
Bananas (lb)
$0.63
$0.74
+18% in San Diego, CA

Average prices — Midwest vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / CA)
5.75%
7.25%
+1.5 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
13.30%
+10.6 pp in CA

Columbus vs San Diego — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or San Diego?
Columbus, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,250 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 43% below San Diego, CA's $2,210, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in San Diego?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $75,000 in San Diego.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or San Diego?
Columbus is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); San Diego under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).