Moving from San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA
About 15,876 people made this move in a typical year (Census Bureau metro-to-metro migration flows, ACS 5-year 2016-2020), and 18,697 go the other way. Here is what the move does to two households’ budgets after 2026 taxes — and the salary each needs in Los Angeles, CA.
Single, $70k: line by line
Single adult earning $70,000, renting. Same gross pay in both places; renting at HUD Fair Market Rent (1 bedroom). Taxes take 21.6% of income in San Diego, CA and 21.6% in Los Angeles, CA.
San Diego, CA Los Angeles, CA (monthly)
| Monthly | San Diego, CA | Los Angeles, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross income | $5,833 | $5,833 | $0 |
| Taxes | $1,258 | $1,258 | $0 |
| Federal income tax2026 tax law | $548 | $548 | $0 |
| Social Security + Medicare2026 tax law | $446 | $446 | $0 |
| State income tax2026 tax law | $189 | $189 | $0 |
| State Disability Insurance (SDI)2026 tax law | $76 | $76 | $0 |
| Take-home pay | $4,575 | $4,575 | $0 |
| Housing | $2,335 | $2,402 | +$67 |
| Rent, 1-bedroomHUD FMR FY2027 · 40th-percentile gross rent, includes tenant-paid utilities | $2,335 | $2,402 | +$67 |
| Food | $476 | $470 | −$6 |
| Food at home (USDA Moderate-Cost plan)USDA food plans August 2026 · US cost × RPP goods 106.6 | $476 | $470 | −$6 |
| Transportation | $249 | $249 | $0 |
| GasolineEIA electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05 · 12,000 mi ÷ 25 mpg × $6.23/gal (CA weekly average) | $249 | $249 | $0 |
| Sales tax | $39 | $39 | $0 |
| State sales taxState revenue dept. 2026-10-13 · 7.25% on other goods; groceries exempt — local add-ons not modeled | $39 | $39 | $0 |
| Other goods & services | $1,038 | $1,055 | +$17 |
| Other goods (estimate)Estimate (BEA RPP 2024) · your US-average baseline × RPP goods 106.6 | $540 | $533 | −$7 |
| Other services (estimate)Estimate (BEA RPP 2024) · your US-average baseline × RPP other services 104.4 | $498 | $522 | +$24 |
| Left over after modeled costs | $438 | $361 | −$78 |
Family of four, $120k: line by line
Two adults, a preschooler and a school-age child, $120,000 combined, renting. Same gross pay in both places; renting at HUD Fair Market Rent (2 bedrooms), center-based childcare in current dollars. Taxes take 15.5% of income in San Diego, CA and 15.5% in Los Angeles, CA.
San Diego, CA Los Angeles, CA (monthly)
| Monthly | San Diego, CA | Los Angeles, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross income | $10,000 | $10,000 | $0 |
| Taxes | $1,545 | $1,545 | $0 |
| Federal income tax2026 tax law · after $4,400 Child Tax Credit | $470 | $470 | $0 |
| Social Security + Medicare2026 tax law | $765 | $765 | $0 |
| State income tax2026 tax law | $180 | $180 | $0 |
| State Disability Insurance (SDI)2026 tax law | $130 | $130 | $0 |
| Take-home pay | $8,455 | $8,455 | $0 |
| Housing | $2,823 | $2,964 | +$141 |
| Rent, 2-bedroomHUD FMR FY2027 · 40th-percentile gross rent, includes tenant-paid utilities | $2,823 | $2,964 | +$141 |
| Childcare | $2,445 | $2,244 | −$201 |
| Childcare, center-basedDOL NDCP 2022 · preschool $225/wk, school-age $199/wk (2022 prices, Los Angeles County, CA); × 1.2224 BLS CPI day care, 2022 to 2026-08; Checked against DOL’s raw NDCP file: $256.98 is the published 2022 price (flag 1); it is below LA’s own 2020 price ($346) and below Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, and is used as published | $2,445 | $2,244 | −$201 |
| Food | $1,385 | $1,368 | −$17 |
| Food at home (USDA Moderate-Cost plan)USDA food plans August 2026 · US cost × RPP goods 106.6 | $1,385 | $1,368 | −$17 |
| Transportation | $498 | $498 | $0 |
| GasolineEIA electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05 · 24,000 mi ÷ 25 mpg × $6.23/gal (CA weekly average) | $498 | $498 | $0 |
| Sales tax | $39 | $39 | $0 |
| State sales taxState revenue dept. 2026-10-13 · 7.25% on other goods; groceries exempt — local add-ons not modeled | $39 | $39 | $0 |
| Other goods & services | $1,038 | $1,055 | +$17 |
| Other goods (estimate)Estimate (BEA RPP 2024) · your US-average baseline × RPP goods 106.6 | $540 | $533 | −$7 |
| Other services (estimate)Estimate (BEA RPP 2024) · your US-average baseline × RPP other services 104.4 | $498 | $522 | +$24 |
| Left over after modeled costs | $227 | $288 | +$61 |
San Diego, CA vs Los Angeles, CA at a glance
| Measure | San Diego, CA | Los Angeles, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (BEA RPP, US = 100) | 111.9 | 113.6 |
| Housing price level | 179.3 | 170.4 |
| 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent | $2,335 | $2,402 |
| 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent | $2,823 | $2,964 |
| 3-bedroom Fair Market Rent | $3,743 | $3,760 |
| Median home value | $854,700 | $871,300 |
| Effective property-tax rate | 0.68% | 0.67% |
| Median household income | $106,268 | $95,958 |
| Center infant care / week (DOL NDCP 2022 unless noted) | $379 | $257 |
| State income tax on wages | Yes | Yes |
| Mandatory local income tax (principal city) | None in our data | None in our data |
| State sales tax | 7.25% | 7.25% |
| Regular gasoline | $6.23 | $6.23 |
| Average electric bill (state) | $155 | $155 |
Sources: BEA RPP 2024; HUD FMR FY2027; Census ACS 2020-2024; DOL NDCP 2022; 2026 tax law; state revenue departments; EIA (electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05).
Frequently asked questions
How much do I need to make in Los Angeles, CA to keep my San Diego, CA lifestyle?+
For a single renter earning $70,000 in San Diego, CA, about $71,528 in Los Angeles, CA (+2.2%). For two adults with a preschooler and a school-age child on $120,000, about $119,002. Both keep the same money left over after 2026 taxes, rent, childcare, food, fuel and other modeled costs.
Is Los Angeles, CA cheaper than San Diego, CA?+
On BEA’s 2024 price index, Los Angeles, CA is at 113.6 and San Diego, CA at 111.9 (US = 100). After taxes and household costs, a single renter on $70,000 would have −$78 a month in Los Angeles, CA.
How many people move from San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA?+
About 15,876 people a year (±1,647), according to the Census Bureau’s metro-to-metro migration flows (ACS 5-year 2016-2020); about 18,697 move the other way.
What isn’t included?+
Moving costs, health insurance, car payments and insurance, local sales tax add-ons and differences in wages between the two metros. Add known monthly costs in the calculator’s “Fixed costs / month” field.