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Los Angeles vs San Diego cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇺🇸 Los Angeles
🇺🇸 San DiegoLos Angeles and San Diego cost about the same
Living on $8,136 a month in Los Angeles feels like about $7,995 in San Diego — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$369 vs $369
Per month
$8,136 vs $7,995
Local meal
$ 18 vs $ 17
$18 vs $17
Taxi 5 km
$ 20 vs $ 17
$20 vs $17
At a glance
Foodsimilar
Cafés & drinkssimilar
TransportLos Angeles 8% cheaper
Staysimilar
Funsimilar
- Where Los Angeles is clearly cheaper: Transit (30%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Los Angeles | San Diego | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | $ 18$18 | $ 17$17 | San Diego −6% |
| Street food1 item | $ 8.1$8.1 | $ 7.7$7.7 | similar |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | $ 45$45 | $ 45$45 | similar |
| Coffeeone cup | $ 5.5$5.5 | $ 5.5$5.5 | similar |
| Beerone bottle | $ 8$8 | $ 8$8 | similar |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | $ 21$21 | $ 21$21 | similar |
| Bottled water | $ 2$2 | $ 2$2 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | $ 5$5 | $ 5$5 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | $ 20$20 | $ 17$17 | San Diego −15% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | $ 12$12 | $ 12$12 | similar |
| Transitone ride | $ 1.75$1.75 | $ 2.5$2.5 | Los Angeles −30% |
| Scooter rentalper day | $ 62$62 | $ 60$60 | similar |
| Hotel night3-star | $ 200$200 | $ 210$210 | Los Angeles −5% |
| Studio rent (month) | $ 2,500$2,500 | $ 2,500$2,500 | similar |
| Laundry | $ 4$4 | $ 4$4 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | $ 26$26 | $ 25$25 | similar |
| Haircutcut | $ 35$35 | $ 35$35 | similar |
| Massage1 hour | $ 100$100 | $ 100$100 | similar |
| Half-day tourper person | $ 93$93 | $ 90$90 | similar |
| Entry ticketTourist town | $ 26$26 | $ 25$25 | similar |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Los Angeles or San Diego?
Los Angeles and San Diego cost about the same. Daily budget $369 vs $369; a month $8,136 vs $7,995.
How do monthly costs compare between Los Angeles and San Diego?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Los Angeles is about $8,136 and San Diego about $7,995 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.