Living Cost Compare
Salem

Oregon

$1,170/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 $1,170 in Salem, OR versus $2,210 in San Diego, CA. Overall, Salem, OR is roughly 47% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Diego, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,900 in Salem, OR and $104,321 in San Diego, CA — about 31% higher in San Diego, CA. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Salem, OR
San Diego, CA

Rent

Studio
$1,075
$1,737
+62% in San Diego, CA
1 Bedroom
$989
$1,883
+90% in San Diego, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,337
$2,348
+76% in San Diego, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,778
$2,818
+58% in San Diego, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$382,400
$848,500
+122% in San Diego, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$71,900
$104,321
+45% in San Diego, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,310
$58,690
+6% in San Diego, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
36.0 yr
+0.3 yr in San Diego, CA
Homeownership
55.7%
47.6%
+8.1 pp in Salem, OR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
31.4%
49.9%
+18.5 pp in San Diego, CA
Avg Commute
22.4 min
23.9 min
+1.5 min in San Diego, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
540.6
414.3
+23% in Salem, OR
Property Crime
2,878.6
1,693.6
+41% in Salem, OR

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
53.0°F
63.6°F
+10.6°F in San Diego, CA
Annual Precipitation
39.7 in
10.3 in
+29.3 in in Salem, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$5.40/gal
+6% in San Diego, CA

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs California.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.3
33.3
+104% in San Diego, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.59
$20.72
+1% in San Diego, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OR / CA)
None
7.25%
+7.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
9.90%
13.30%
+3.4 pp in CA

Salem vs San Diego — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Salem or San Diego?
Salem, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 47% below San Diego, CA's $2,210, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Salem than in San Diego?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Salem versus $75,000 in San Diego.
Which has lower taxes, Salem or San Diego?
Salem is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).