Cost of living compared

San Diego vs Los Angeles

On a $200,000 salary, Los Angeles leaves you about $314 more a month than San Diego after taxes, rent, commuting and everyday costs. Over 5 years that is roughly $21.3K more saved.

Each month on $200,000 a year

	San Diego, CA	Los Angeles, CA
Take-home pay	$11,192	$11,192
Federal income tax	$3,061	$3,061
State and local income tax	$1,219	$1,219
Rent (median)	$2,223	$1,879
Commute	$585	$585
Everyday costs	$1,665	$1,695
Left over each month	$6,718	$7,032
Savings after 5 years	$498,796	$520,137

The places

	San Diego	Los Angeles
Cost of living (US average = 100, excluding rent)	111	113
Transit score (100 = car-free is easy)	40	50
Average summer high	78°F	92°F
Average winter low	46°F	44°F
Rainy days a year	43	37

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Change the salary in each city, your rent, commute, a house instead of renting, or add up to three more options. Wotify recomputes everything.

How this was worked out

The same $200,000 salary in both cities, 2026 federal, state and city income tax, and FICA.
Housing not given, using the median rent in San Diego ($2,223/mo).
Commute not given, assuming a 25 min drive.
Everyday costs of $1,665/mo from San Diego's cost index (111).
Housing not given, using the median rent in Los Angeles ($1,879/mo).
Everyday costs of $1,695/mo from Los Angeles's cost index (113).
Savings grow with a 3% yearly raise. Rent and income figures come from the US Census where available.

San Diego vs Los Angeles

Each month on $200,000 a year

The places

Make it yours

How this was worked out

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