Living Cost Compare
San Diego

California

$2,210/mo est.

vs
Tucson

Arizona

$1,060/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,210 in San Diego, CA versus $1,060 in Tucson, AZ. Overall, Tucson, AZ is roughly 52% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Diego, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $104,321 in San Diego, CA and $54,546 in Tucson, AZ — about 48% higher in San Diego, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

San Diego, CA
Tucson, AZ

Rent

Studio
$1,737
$795
+54% in San Diego, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,883
$891
+53% in San Diego, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,348
$1,146
+51% in San Diego, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,818
$1,520
+46% in San Diego, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$848,500
$242,200
+71% in San Diego, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$104,321
$54,546
+48% in San Diego, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$58,690
$47,760
+19% in San Diego, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.0 yr
34.6 yr
+1.4 yr in San Diego, CA
Homeownership
47.6%
51.7%
+4.1 pp in Tucson, AZ
Bachelor's+ (25+)
49.9%
30.2%
+19.7 pp in San Diego, CA
Avg Commute
23.9 min
22.2 min
+1.7 min in San Diego, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
414.1
645.8
+56% in Tucson, AZ
Property Crime
1,693.1
3,460
+104% in Tucson, AZ

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
63.6°F
70.2°F
+6.6°F in Tucson, AZ
Annual Precipitation
10.3 in
11.6 in
+1.3 in in Tucson, AZ

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.91/gal
$5.57/gal
+6% in San Diego, CA

Area: California vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
Free

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
15.6
+53% in San Diego, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$19.69
+5% in San Diego, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.37
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.25
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$7.23
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.14
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.74
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / AZ)
7.25%
5.6%
+1.7 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
2.50%
+10.8 pp in CA

San Diego vs Tucson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in San Diego or Tucson?
Tucson, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,060 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 52% below San Diego, CA's $2,210, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in San Diego than in Tucson?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $75,000 a year in San Diego versus $36,000 in Tucson.
Which has lower taxes, San Diego or Tucson?
San Diego is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Tucson under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).