Cost of living in the San Diego Metro Area
1 counties across CA. Population: 3,282,782.
Last updated May 22, 2026
Rent in the San Diego Metro Area
Average rent across the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area, weighted by county population.
Source: HUD FMR + ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Income and earnings in the San Diego Metro Area
Earnings data averaged across all 1 counties.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Home values in the San Diego Metro Area
Average home values and annual property tax across the metro.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Energy costs in the San Diego Metro Area
Residential electricity and natural gas estimates.
Source: EIA (state averages applied per county, weighted)
All 1 counties in the San Diego Metro Area
The San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area includes 1 counties. Sorted by population.
Compare counties in the San Diego Metro Area
Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up across the metro.
Open comparison toolFrequently asked questions about the San Diego Metro Area
Common questions about cost of living in the metro area.
What is the cost of living in the San Diego Metro Area?
The estimated average cost of living in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area is approximately $4,511 per month for a single person. This is a population-weighted average across the 1 counties that make up the metro area.
What is the average rent in the San Diego Metro Area?
The average one-bedroom rent across the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area is $2,328 per month, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data weighted by county population.
What is the cheapest county in the San Diego Metro Area?
San Diego County, CA is the most affordable county in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area at approximately $4,511 per month for a single person.
What is the most expensive county in the San Diego Metro Area?
San Diego County, CA is the most expensive county in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area at approximately $4,511 per month for a single person.
How many counties are in the San Diego Metro Area?
The San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area covers 1 counties. The five largest by population are San Diego.
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About this data
All figures come from official U.S. government sources. Metro-area averages are population-weighted across constituent counties using Census ACS population estimates.