Side-by-side comparison

West Palm Beach vs San Diego

Cost of living comparison for West Palm Beach, Florida and San Diego, California.

Bottom line

San Diego is approximately 20% more expensive than West Palm Beach. A single person needs about $4,511/mo in San Diego versus $3,761/mo in West Palm Beach.

Rent in West Palm Beach vs San Diego

HUD Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

West Palm Beach · Studio

$1,639

San Diego · Studio

$2,145

San Diego is $506 (31%) higher than West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach · 1 bedroom

$1,830

San Diego · 1 bedroom

$2,328

San Diego is $498 (27%) higher than West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach · 2 bedroom

$2,187

San Diego · 2 bedroom

$2,881

San Diego is $694 (32%) higher than West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach · 3 bedroom

$2,856

San Diego · 3 bedroom

$3,852

San Diego is $996 (35%) higher than West Palm Beach

Income & earnings in West Palm Beach vs San Diego

Annual figures from Census ACS.

West Palm Beach · Household income

$81,115

San Diego · Household income

$102,285

San Diego is $21,170 (26%) higher than West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach · Individual earnings

$42,309

San Diego · Individual earnings

$49,552

San Diego is $7,243 (17%) higher than West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach · Per capita

$50,998

San Diego · Per capita

$49,891

West Palm Beach is $1,107 (2%) higher than San Diego

Home values in West Palm Beach vs San Diego

Average values and property tax.

West Palm Beach · Average home value

$407,300

San Diego · Average home value

$791,600

San Diego is $384,300 (94%) higher than West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach · Annual property tax

$3,600

San Diego · Annual property tax

$5,542

San Diego is $1,942 (54%) higher than West Palm Beach

Energy in West Palm Beach vs San Diego

Estimated monthly electricity and gas.

West Palm Beach · Monthly electricity

$176

San Diego · Monthly electricity

$167

West Palm Beach is $9 (5%) higher than San Diego

West Palm Beach · Monthly gas

$21

San Diego · Monthly gas

$50

San Diego is $29 (138%) higher than West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach · Annual total

$2,364

San Diego · Annual total

$2,604

San Diego is $240 (10%) higher than West Palm Beach

Healthcare in West Palm Beach vs San Diego

Marketplace premium estimates and coverage rate.

West Palm Beach · Individual premium

$480

San Diego · Individual premium

$480

West Palm Beach and San Diego are about the same

West Palm Beach · Family premium

$1,350

San Diego · Family premium

$1,350

West Palm Beach and San Diego are about the same

West Palm Beach · Uninsured rate

13.2%

San Diego · Uninsured rate

6.8%

West Palm Beach is 6.4% (94%) higher than San Diego

Taxes in West Palm Beach vs San Diego

State income and sales tax.

West Palm Beach · State income tax

0.0%

San Diego · State income tax

13.3%

San Diego is 13.3% higher than West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach · State sales tax

6.0%

San Diego · State sales tax

7.3%

San Diego is 1.3% (21%) higher than West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach · Combined sales tax

7.0%

San Diego · Combined sales tax

8.8%

San Diego is 1.8% (26%) higher than West Palm Beach

Transportation in West Palm Beach vs San Diego

Commute time and travel modes.

West Palm Beach · Average commute

26.4 min

San Diego · Average commute

25.9 min

West Palm Beach is 0.5 min (2%) higher than San Diego

West Palm Beach · Drive alone

71.4%

San Diego · Drive alone

67.6%

West Palm Beach is 3.8% (6%) higher than San Diego

West Palm Beach · Public transit

1.4%

San Diego · Public transit

2.2%

San Diego is 0.8% (57%) higher than West Palm Beach

Monthly cost estimates in West Palm Beach vs San Diego

All categories combined.

West Palm Beach · Single person

$3,761

San Diego · Single person

$4,511

San Diego is $750 (20%) higher than West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach · Couple

$5,353

San Diego · Couple

$6,941

San Diego is $1,588 (30%) higher than West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach · Family

$8,180

San Diego · Family

$10,119

San Diego is $1,939 (24%) higher than West Palm Beach

Frequently asked questions

Common questions comparing West Palm Beach and San Diego.

Is West Palm Beach or San Diego more expensive?

San Diego is more expensive overall. A single person needs approximately $3,761/mo in West Palm Beach, Florida and $4,511/mo in San Diego, California, a difference of about 20%.

What is the rent difference between West Palm Beach and San Diego?

Average one-bedroom rent in West Palm Beach, Florida is $1,830/mo versus $2,328/mo in San Diego, California. San Diego is approximately $498 (27%) more expensive for a one-bedroom apartment.

Which has higher income, West Palm Beach or San Diego?

San Diego has the higher average household income. West Palm Beach households earn approximately $81,115 per year; San Diego households earn approximately $102,285 per year.

More on West Palm Beach and San Diego

Read full profiles for either area, or pick a different pair to compare.

West Palm Beach profile San Diego profile Compare different areas

About this data

Figures come from official U.S. government sources including the Census Bureau (ACS), HUD Fair Market Rents, and the Energy Information Administration. See our methodology for details.