CostIndexUSA

Fremont, CA vs San Diego, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Fremont
115.6
overall index
$3,075/mo rent
More AffordableCA
San Diego
111.9
overall index
$2,875/mo rent

San Diego is slightly cheaper than Fremont — 3.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fremont, you would need $77,400 in San Diego. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing7.9%
Fremont
194.7
San Diego
179.3
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Fremont
108.5
San Diego
108
🚗 Transportation6.2%
Fremont
111.5
San Diego
104.6
🏥 Healthcare6.2%
Fremont
100.9
San Diego
94.6
Utilities+0.9%
Fremont
172.6
San Diego
174.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in San Diego, CA
$77,400
$2,600 less needed in San Diego

Formula: salary × (111.9 ÷ 115.6) = salary × 0.9680. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fremont, CA

Median Home Price
$1,090,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,075
Housing Index
194.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
29.5×

San Diego, CA

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

Fremont has 7.9% lower housing costs compared to San Diego.

Income & Job Market

Fremont, CA

Median Household Income
$127,800
Per Capita Income
$72,800
Unemployment Rate
5%
Population
230,504
Top Industries
TechnologyManufacturingHealthcareRetailEducation

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).

Fremont, CA
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.