CostIndexUSA

Aurora, CO vs San Diego, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableCO
Aurora
105.8
overall index
$1,850/mo rent
CA
San Diego
111.9
overall index
$2,875/mo rent

Aurora is moderately cheaper than San Diego — 5.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Aurora, you would need $84,600 in San Diego. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+22.1%
Aurora
146.9
San Diego
179.3
🛒 Groceries+6.9%
Aurora
101
San Diego
108
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Aurora
104.4
San Diego
104.6
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Aurora
94.5
San Diego
94.6
Utilities+98.2%
Aurora
87.9
San Diego
174.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Aurora to see what you'd need to earn in San Diego to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in San Diego, CA
$84,600
$4,600 more needed in San Diego

Formula: salary × (111.9 ÷ 105.8) = salary × 1.0577. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Aurora, CO

Median Home Price
$559,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
146.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.2×

San Diego, CA

Median Home Price
$904,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,875
Housing Index
179.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.2×

San Diego has 22.1% higher housing costs compared to Aurora.

Income & Job Market

Aurora, CO

Median Household Income
$103,100
Per Capita Income
$58,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
366,623
Top Industries
HealthcareAerospaceTechnologyGovernmentRetail

San Diego, CA

Median Household Income
$103,700
Per Capita Income
$59,100
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
1,386,932
Top Industries
MilitaryTechnologyTourismBiotechnologyHealthcare

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Aurora, CO
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

San Diego, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.