Cost of Living & Salary Comparison 2026
Yes, San Diego is 6% cheaper than Boston based on our cost of living index. San Diego has a COLI of 77.5, while Boston has a COLI of 82.4. 6% cheaper
Overall, San Diego is approximately 6% cheaper than Boston based on our cost of living index. Boston has a COLI of 82.4 (ranked #9 of 182 cities), while San Diego has a COLI of 77.5 (ranked #15).
When it comes to housing, one-bedroom apartment rent in Boston averages $2,800/month compared to $2,600/month in San Diego. That makes San Diego approximately 7% cheaper for rent alone.
San Diego has lower total deductions (30.4%) compared to Boston (30.6%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in San Diego. When evaluating a relocation, remember that total deductions directly impact your take-home pay and should be weighed alongside cost of living differences.
Full breakdown of mandatory payroll deductions for a mid-range salary as a local employee in each city.
Rates shown for local employees. Expat deductions may differ — use the main converter for personalized calculations.
If you earn $75,000 in Boston, you would need approximately $70,540 in San Diego to maintain the same purchasing power. That is 6% less thanks to lower cost of living.
Estimated mid-level annual salaries in local currency, adjusted for each city's cost of living:
| Job Title | Boston (USD) | San Diego (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor (General) | $148,320 | $139,500 |
| Software Engineer | $70,040 | $65,875 |
| Product Manager | $82,400 | $77,500 |
| Lawyer | $82,400 | $77,500 |
| Data Scientist | $78,280 | $73,625 |
| Marketing Manager | $59,328 | $55,800 |
| Teacher | $39,552 | $37,200 |
| Nurse | $47,792 | $44,950 |
Salary estimates are adjusted by each city's COLI relative to the New York baseline. Actual salaries vary by company, experience, and industry.
| Neighborhood | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Back Bay | 1.30x (+30%) |
| Beacon Hill | 1.28x (+28%) |
| Seaport | 1.25x (+25%) |
| Cambridge (Kendall Sq) | 1.20x (+20%) |
| South End | 1.18x (+18%) |
| Neighborhood | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Coronado | 1.40x (+40%) |
| Rancho Santa Fe | 1.40x (+40%) |
| Del Mar | 1.38x (+38%) |
| La Jolla | 1.35x (+35%) |
| Gaslamp Quarter | 1.22x (+22%) |
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Open Salary ConverterBoston is more expensive overall. Boston has a COLI of 82.4 while San Diego has a COLI of 77.5, making San Diego approximately 6% cheaper.
To maintain the same standard of living as $75,000 in Boston, you would need approximately $70,540 in San Diego.
Average one-bedroom rent in Boston is $2,800/month compared to $2,600/month in San Diego. San Diego has lower rent by approximately 7%.
San Diego has lower total deductions (30.4%) compared to Boston (30.6%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in San Diego.
Cost of living indices (COLI) are benchmarked to New York City = 100 and derived from Numbeo and Expatistan crowd-sourced price surveys, cross-referenced with national statistics agencies. Rent data from Numbeo Property Prices.
Salary ranges are compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OES), Glassdoor, and PayScale. Tax rates are approximate effective rates for mid-range earners based on OECD Taxing Wages and national tax authorities. Exchange rates from the European Central Bank. Neighborhood multipliers are estimated from local rental indices and property data.
Last updated: 2026-02-28. Data is refreshed periodically. All figures are estimates for informational purposes only.