There are pros and cons of living in San Diego. Mostly pros, but there are some cons as well, especially the cost of living. I’ve had the privilege to live in San Diego for the past 20 years plus and will give you the ultimate insider perspective.
Pros and Cons of Living in San Diego: Why Create This List?
This isn’t the usual content for my blog, but a big part of personal finance is where you choose to live. Depending on where you live in the country, there are different costs associated.
For example, in areas like San Diego, the Bay Area, and New York City, housing costs are exorbitant. Areas that receive less rain have higher water prices. Parts of the country with abnormally bad weather have costs like snow tires, weather retrofitting of houses, etc.
So while it’s a really great place to live, there are pros and cons to living in San Diego people should know about.
Pros of Living in San Diego
These are the pros of living in San Diego. There are obvious examples like beautiful weather, entertainment, and outdoor activities. Then there are less obvious things like the ability to be at the snow and beach in the same hour.
Number 1: Beautiful Beaches
San Diego has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, such as:
Plus, these beaches can be enjoyed year round for surfers, hikers, and people who just want to enjoy the view. For swimmers, June through September are the best months with warmer water temperatures.
Number 2: Weather
Weather is fantastic year round in San Diego. While there is technically a “rainy season” in San Diego, it really doesn’t rain that often. And when it does, you can usually enjoy the rest of the day with partially cloudy skies.
It’s not abnormal to get three to four days in a row in December, January, and February (traditionally the “cold season”) with temperatures in the 80’s. Temperatures in the 70’s and 80’s are very normal in all other months.
Number 3: Food
There are lots of amazing food choices in San Diego. Fresh sushi, seafood, Italian, Indian, Chinese, Thai are all plentiful. Downtown, North Park, South Park, Hillcrest, La Jolla, and more have great food choices.
Number 4: Endless Things to Do
There’s tons of things to do in San Diego. Dining, theatre, Sea World, the world class San Diego Zoo, golf courses, and much more. No matter the month or day, there is always something to do. With the almost perfect weather, indoor and outdoor activities are available year-round.
Related: 104 Things to do That Don’t Cost Money (or Very Little Money)
Number 5: Kid Friendly
San Diego is very kid friendly. All the beaches are free (minus parking for a few of them), there’s lots of open space, and plenty of grassy areas to play such as all around the Mission Bay Park system.
There’s also an endless amount of parks and playgrounds. For playgrounds, try the new one across the street from the rollercoaster in Mission Beach, or Santee’s recently renovated Mast Park which features a plethora of modern playground equipment.
Number 6: Youth Sports
With the year-round exceptional weather, San Diego has plenty of opportunity for youth sports. Baseball, soccer, lacrosse, football, basketball, tennis, and much more. All these sports can be played year-round as there are minimal challenges with weather related issues.
Whatever your child’s skill level, there’s a place for him or her in a rec league or for more serious athletes, travel ball.
Number 7: Something for Everyone
No matter what you like to do, there is something for everyone. Sports, outdoor activities, entertainment, nightlife, dining–it’s all in San Diego. There are plenty of things to do on your own for free, organized paid activities, or larger paid events.
Number 8: Freeway System
Although traffic is listed in the cons list (after the pros list), there is a comprehensive freeway system in San Diego. There’s a saying that you can get anywhere in 20 minutes–and that’s because of the freeways system.
There are large interstates like the 5 that can take you from Mexico to the Canadian border, the 8 that can take you to Arizona, and the 15 that takes you to Vegas, Salt Lake City, and eventually the Canadian border. In addition, there are smaller freeways that just run in and around the city like the 163, 805, and 52 among others.
Number 9: Downtown
San Diego’s downtown isn’t New York or Chicago, but it’s moderately sized and has plentiful choices for dining, nightlife, shopping, sporting events, and other activities. There’s the historic Gaslamp Quarter, the waterfront, and harbor all in a small area that’s very walkable.
In addition, places like Little Italy and North Park are right on the outskirts of downtown, making it an easy Uber ride over.
Number 10: Convenient Airport
San Diego’s airport is very convenient and easy to use. There are only two terminals and it’s located right next to downtown. Easy to drive to or access by Uber or Lyft.
For short trips, you can also do what I do and park a couple miles away from the airport, leave the car, and then Uber the rest of the way. If you really want to go to the extreme to save money, you can park a few miles away and walk to the airport although that has become increasingly difficult with the new construction.
San Diego International Airport doesn’t offer as many direct flights as hubs like Dallas, Chicago, or Atlanta, but they are becoming more and more available.
Related: 11 Simple Travel Hacks
Number 11: Endless Outdoor Activities
There are countless outdoor activities in San Diego.
- Swimming in the ocean or pools
- Coastal or mountain hikes
- Tennis, pickleball, golf, softball, etc.
- Urban hikes or walks
With the weather being the way it is, you can probably do something outside every day in San Diego if you wanted to. You might have to go through a little rain or heat now and then, but it’s still very doable.
Number 12: Different Experiences at Beaches
San Diego’s beaches are so fantastic that it deserves two headings. One heading about them in general and another for specific experiences depending on the time of day and year.
One thing I love about the beaches in San Diego is they offer a different experience depending on what time of the day and year you go. Sunrise walks on the beach have the best lighting and there’s something magical about watching the darkness turn to light.
Middle of the day is great for swimming and beach games, while sunset is great for a walk or just relaxing as the sun goes down. The winter is cooler and less crowded while the summer brings the heat, warm water, and crowds.
Number 13: Mountains
I wouldn’t say San Diego is famous for its mountains but there are lots of them in the area. Many provide great hiking opportunities such as:
- Cowles
- Iron Mountain
- Palomar
- Mountains around Mission Trails Park
There are literally hundreds of trails you can take, ranging from beginner to strenuous. Note: If hiking in spring though fall, watch out for rattlesnakes, they are frequently spotted.
Number 14: Beach and Snow in the Same Hour
Something really cool about San Diego not many people know about is that you can see beach and snow in the same hour. Mountain areas like Julian and Palomar Mountain frequently get snow in the winter.
Drive from say, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and you can get to La Jolla Shores in 55 minutes. Or if you want to go to Mission Beach instead from Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, that’s almost exactly the same distance as La Jolla Shores. Not a lot of places in the world you can do this!
Number 15: Local Universities
There’s an abundance of local universities in San Diego.
These are the four biggest but there are plenty of community colleges and smaller schools as well. In addition to higher education, the local universities offer sports, concerts, cultural events, and much more.
Cons to Living in San Diego
San Diego is a fantastic place to live but like anywhere in the world, there are some drawbacks as well. We went through the pros, these are the cons to living in San Diego.
Number 1: Housing Prices
Let’s start with the most glaring con to living in San Diego, and that’s the housing prices. San Diego isn’t cheap. The median cost of a single family home is over $800,000. A house on the coast is going to be in the millions and anything with a close view of the water is going to be multi-millions.
It’s challenging for a first time homebuyer with average wages to purchase a home in the county. San Diego is a hard market to break into. On the positive side, those who’ve owned a home for a few years have enjoyed significant appreciation, with many doubling and tripling (and more) the original purchase costs.
Number 2: Job Income to Housing
Piggybacking off the housing costs is the next con: job income to housing costs. In a nutshell, the average income has not kept pace with the housing costs in San Diego.
This isn’t a problem isolated to San Diego either, much of the country has experienced this same phenomenon. It’s just more pronounced in San Diego because home prices have appreciated so dramatically over the last ten plus years.
Number 3: Travel to Other Parts of the Country
This is a con for anyone living on the west coast. Travel to other parts of the country is more challenging than for those who live in the middle of the country in cities like Dallas, Denver, Chicago, etc.
It’s a simple math and mileage issue: travel from San Diego to the Midwest is two to three hours while travel to the east coast is around five hours. Contrast that to someone traveling from Dallas to the east or west coast–it’s more like a two to three-hour trip for them.
While there are more and more direct flights being offered, travel from San Diego to other parts of the country often require a transfer or two. Not a huge deal but certainly not as convenient as cities in the Midwest.
Number 4: High UV Rating
With the good comes the bad. San Diego is known for its brilliant sunshine and cloudless days, but that also comes with high UV ratings. Especially in the summertime.
I know this firsthand because about five years ago I had cancerous cells removed from the top of my head. This was a direct result of being out in the sun without a hat (and not having the full head of hair I used to).
So check the UV ratings before you go outside, use sunscreen, wear hats, seek the shade, and try to exercise in the mornings or evenings when the UV ratings aren’t so high, because it’s a very real danger in San Diego.
Number 5: May Gray and June Gloom
Funny thing to write about right after the section on high UV ratings: May Gray and June Gloom. May and June are the times of the year when it’s foggier than the rest of the year. It’s not out of the ordinary to get five plus days in a row of overcast skies.
In fact, as I write this on May 25th, 2023, it’s been overcast for a solid five plus days in a row with more overcast skies in the forecast. This isn’t terrible for San Diego residents because it’s a break from the heat, but for someone coming to visit San Diego for a few days, the overcast skies can put a damper on the trip.
Number 6: High Taxes
California has high state taxes, and since San Diego is in California, it’s an issue for the city. California has some of the highest tax rates in the nation, and when you combine that with San Diego’s high cost of living, it can make things even more challenging financially.
If you’re moving to San Diego from another city in California, this won’t be any different. But if you’re coming from another state with lower state taxes, you will definitely notice, and possibly be shocked.
Number 7: Drought
The whole state of California has been in a drought for several years. The heavier than normal rains and snow this rainy season (2022-2023) have helped but drought is always an issue.
If you want a large lush lawn and plants that require water every day, San Diego may not be the place for you. Most landscaping is native plants that require minimal water combined with rocks, mulch, and artificial turf. I personally don’t mind it, but those used to different types of landscaping might.
Number 8: Traffic
San Diego is a great place to live, which means lots of people want to live here. That also means more traffic. Although there are really good freeway systems, there is a good amount of traffic.
Not Bay Area or LA traffic, but most mornings and afternoons are going to have some traffic. If you’re expecting to zip to and from work in the morning and afternoon, that’s not going to happen most days. Traffic has gotten better since people began working home during the pandemic, but it’s still an issue.
Number 9: Lack of Public Transportation
San Diego has a trolley system and busses, but public transportation is not nearly as good as in other major cities around the country. You can get most places in San Diego using public transportation, it’s just going to take a long time. For this reason, most people travel by car or rideshare.
Number 10: Sports Scene
San Diego’s sport scene is improving, but not great. There’s a major league baseball team, and San Diego State is Division 1 in the major sports. San Diego is also getting a MLS soccer team in the near future.
The Chargers left for LA a few years back and there hasn’t been pro basketball in several decades.
Conclusion
There are pros and cons to living in San Diego, it’s impossible for anywhere to be all good or all bad. Overall, San Diego is a fantastic place to live and there’s something for everyone.
To me, there are a lot more pros than cons, and the majority of the cons are not life changing with the exception of housing prices.
What are some other pros and cons of living in San Diego?
This Post Has 2 Comments
Great information and totally unbiased. Thanks, Aaron!
Thank you Howard!
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