Life in San Diego has its quirks, like getting used to what’s basically eternal sunshine. Overall, the California city meets its description as “America’s Finest City,” a fairly obnoxious moniker that has nevertheless stuck.
These aren’t my words, by the way, but the words of a 1970s-era promotional campaign from a then-mayor. I’ll let this city have it.
There’s no doubt in most visitors’ minds that it’s got some beautiful vistas and mostly smiling humans from all that vitamin D they’re getting. What is it like to really live in San Diego, though? What are the pros and cons of living in San Diego?
Is it really America’s FINEST?
Let’s get into all the reasons why San Diego living is awesome and a few reasons why it’s not. I’ll include what it’s like to live in San Diego as someone who left Chicago to do so for a solid seven years. Yep, we’ve left since!
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Is living in San Diego worth it?
Living in San Diego is absolutely worth it if you’re able to cover the costs of doing so. Even if you’re here temporarily, life in San Diego is an experience you’ll never forget it.
We left after seven years to hit the road nomadic-style and returned four times in the immediate 18 months after moving away. San Diego has a way of pulling you back in, even after you leave.
Living in San Diego Pros & Cons: The Pros
I like kicking things off with positive vibes, so let’s start with all of the reasons why a San Diego lifestyle is pretty awesome.
1. You get spoiled by the weather.
I’m not trying to make small talk here.
The weather really is that great. Sure, people here like to complain about anything that isn’t 72 degrees and sunny when they’re living in San Diego.
That’s because this place really does get a lot of days that are 72 degrees and sunny.
I’ve been known to shiver dramatically and proclaim, “Winter is coming!” when temps dip into the low 60s, covered up to my ears with multiple blankets.
I’m from Chicago, by the way.
What is the coldest month in San Diego? January is the coldest month in San Diego, with average highs of 67 degrees. When May Gray and June Gloom come around, people collectively lose It, and I join in the chorus.
It’s also adorable observing the locals with their beanies and fuzzy boots on when it’d still be jorts, or jean shorts, season back in the Midwest.
I’ve become one of those people now and it is what it is.
2. Life’s a vacation.
I travel a lot.
While living in San Diego, coming back home was only a bad thing because it involved air travel, something I’m becoming less and less patient with as I age.
Living in San Diego is basically like living inside of a vacation. There are palm trees within view as you’re landing, for Pete’s sake. Returning to adult responsibilities is obviously a drag, but you’re also being responsible in a place like San Diego, where people choose to spend their hard-earned vacation days. It’s hard to stay too cranky about it.
We tried not to take that for granted, even when those same people flooded the city in the summertime.
Just look at where you’re goin’, people. I was always happy to point you in the right direction.
3. The food scene is already great and only getting better.
Oh, you thought I’d meet Richard Blais and not brag about it? I have zero chill.
He actually has two spots here in San Diego, the fancier Juniper & Ivy and the more casual The Crack Shack. Both are awesome.
When I left Chicago, I thought I would be pining away for all the good food I was leaving behind.
I still have a deep love for Chicago pizza, but the overall level of dining here impressed me.
I’m not a foodie by any means, but I know garbage when I taste it, and this food here is not garbage.
There are the fancy chefs innovating themselves right out of my budget, all of the international cuisine, the gastropubs, and farm-to-table spots.
There are farmers’ markets on pretty much any day of the week where you can get your produce and weird stuff, e.g. sea urchins.
San Diego is delicious, and new spots are popping up constantly that are inventive, surprising, and just delightful.
4. More specifically, the fish tacos are divine.
When you’re from the Midwest, you know you’re probably not getting the freshest seafood on your plate, no matter how fancy the establishment.
Your best bet is the fried lake perch on the menu in most Wisconsin eateries. It’s delicious with some fried cheese curds on the side, by the way.
Not so in San Diego.
We’ve had fish that was over there flopping around moments before hitting the plate. Those floppy fish are best served in taco form, as with most proteins.
Note: If you’re all, “Where are these delicious tacos??” my top two faves are Blue Water Seafood and Mitch’s Seafood.
Not so much into seafood?
It just so happens that San Diego also has some of the best Mexican food overall in the country, in part helped by the proximity to the border and all of the excellent adventures possible in Mexico.
For the freshest of the fresh, check out the Tuna Harbor Dockside Market on Saturdays from 8am-1pm or any of the best San Diego sushi spots.
5. The outdoor activities are endless.
I always liked interacting with nature, but it took some planning back in Chicago due to something called seasons.
Even when summer would hit, and you’d have all of these intentions to go for a joyous bike ride or hit the beach, it’d be so humid you’d only last max 45 minutes out there.
In San Diego, it’s almost a problem if you’re not into the hiking, the biking, and the enjoying of natural scenery around here.
Apart from its spectacular beaches, San Diego and its surroundings are a hikers’ paradise.
Year-round opportunities beckon you to get out there, get sweaty, and collect some stairs climbed on your fitness apps. The people-watching is better in milder temps, too, with Balboa Park the best spot for all that.
6. You have easy access to Mexico.
Some may feel like this is a negative, but those people are lame.
We’ve done both a self-drive and guided day trip over the border and didn’t feel discomfort at any point.
There was some crankiness around having to sit in the car for several hours on the way back into the United States on our self-drive. That was because I wasn’t allowed to buy any of the puppies or woven Last Supper wall art people were selling in the traffic lane, though.
It’s best then to just walk across if you’re meeting a tour or going into Tijuana.
Note: You can walk right over the border on the Cross Border Xpress bridge to catch flights out of Tijuana Airport, potentially paying a lot less than you would flying out of the United States to destinations throughout Mexico, select cities in the United States and Latin America. There’s a fee to cross the bridge ($30 roundtrip if you pay online), but your airfare should still be much cheaper, particularly throughout Mexico.
7. The San Diego day trip possibilities are endless.
Traveling on the reg means exploring what’s around me, and there were lots of things to see and do in and around San Diego County that didn’t involve getting on an airplane.
While I wouldn’t necessarily want to live in Los Angeles, for example, it’s so much fun to head up there for the day, better yet, for the weekend, to have yourself a La La Land tour.
Fun fact: That iconic dance sequence in the movie in the Hollywood Hills only took an hour to film. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling are just that good.
You can also take a ski trip to Mammoth, do some goat yoga in Ramona, go wine tasting in Temecula, and eat pie in Julian, all without boarding an airplane. You have easy access to road trips to impressive national parks from San Diego, too.
It’s a great base for all kinds of adventuring, and one of the many reasons to live in California, more specifically, San Diego.
8. The beer scene is stellar.
It made me feel pretty lucky when I was at the last Great American Beer Festival in Denver and saw all of the San Diego offerings on display for all to enjoy.
San Diego is one of the United States’ great craft beer capitals.
It isn’t just limited to one neighborhood, either, although North Park’s pretty great and one of the best neighborhoods in San Diego.
I could walk out of my house and hit about a dozen breweries on a bar crawl of my own creation. I wouldn’t, but I could.
There’s also likely a beer festival basically every weekend, alongside some kind of donut/beer, pizza/beer, Takis/beer, etc., pairing as if just drinking beer wasn’t enough for you.
That makes San Diego nightlife bleed into Sunday fundays sometimes, which is not a problem.
There’s also enough of a variety of beer that you’ll be able to find a place that caters to even the most obscure tastes.
9. The vibes are casual.
Flip flops are basically the footwear du jour wherever you are in San Diego.
If you’re wearing real shoes, you’re probably at a job interview, to which I wish you good luck. If you’re wearing a onesie, I also wish you luck, especially if you’re participating in a Santa-themed bar crawl. Those things are not easy to take off when you have to tinkle.
Being all casual also means any work you get done on your house will probably take three times as long as any other area.
You’re on San Diego time now, buddy. Enjoy the view.
10. It’s super dog-friendly.
If you have a dog, you know how important this one is. San Diego has more off-leash options for pups than most places we’ve visited in our travels, and we’ve been to all 50 states. The dog beaches alone are a great option for furry friends who need to let off some steam before they tear apart your house.
People also have zero qualms about bringing their pets even where they don’t belong, like grocery stores, but there are plenty of places where they’re legitimately welcome and don’t involve a stink eye from me.
11. San Diego isn’t Los Angeles.
I love visiting Los Angeles. It’s busy and vibrant and crazy and loud and just A LOT.
Driving up to Los Angeles, California’s largest city, is treacherous, though. There’s just no way to plan around how long it may take you to get from Point A to Point B. Don’t tell me you’ve figured it out because you have not.
Think you’re gonna be cute and leave at midnight?
Here’s an inexplicable traffic jam for you, buddy.
Fun fact: The United States overall ranks as the most traffic-congested developed nation in the world. Americans spend an average of 41 hours per year in traffic. Yipes.
I also feel like I should look cuter when I’m up there. I can’t be wearing my “Keep Calm and Eat Cheese” T-shirt up there, even ironically.
In San Diego, I’m not sure I really even needed to wear pants to take care of my errands most of the time. The quality of life in San Diego just suited me more when I compared Los Angeles vs. San Diego.
12. San Diego is a great family vacation destination.
I don’t have any kids, but there’s plenty here to entertain them with when you’re embracing the San Diego life.
Since the weather’s mild year-round, you won’t run the risk of booking a flight out and then being snowed out of some activity or another.
The downtown San Diego green spaces and beaches are free, so bring those sand toys with you no matter when you’re coming.
The non-free activities are even better. The San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, LEGOLAND in Carlsbad, and the happiest place on Earth, also self-proclaimed, are all within a short drive.
I won’t mention the place with the whales, because Blackfish.
13. I hear San Diego has awesome surf spots.
When I was living in San Diego, California, I wish I learned how to surf that ocean.
It turns out that it requires some skills beyond wanting to tell people you caught some bitchin’ waves yesterday on all of those boards in your storage unit.
Apparently, there are waves available for all skill levels, too, so you don’t need to be embarrassed if you’re just getting your feet wet.
The best surf spots are also the best places to watch surfers romp around in their wetsuits, a pastime I can get behind and is made even better while you’re eating a California burrito. If you love dogs on surfboards, you’ll want to put the Imperial Beach Surf Dog Competition on your calendar ASAP.
14. San Diego golf is a thing all the time.
This one was important to Brian.
HE COULD GOLF ALL THE TIME.
It’s pretty much never a bad day to golf around here. Even a light morning drizzle is usually temporary and builds character.
If you’re a San Diego resident, you also get deep discounts at the big deal Torrey Pines Golf Course.
If you’re not into playing, Torrey hosts the annual Farmers Insurance Open, where you can creep on golf celebrities and post about it on social media.
15. The beach is just over there.
I’ll be honest. I am not a beach person. I don’t like sand in all of my bits both naughty and otherwise, and am working on an anti-wrinkle plan that doesn’t involve much bake time out in the sun.
If we were going to the beach, it was to take the pup to party at a dog beach or hike to vistas of the beach down below at places like Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve.
People around here really love the beach, though, especially after a day or two of June Gloom. It’s like they’ve never seen the sun in those scenarios.
The point is, the beach is never far while you’re in San Diego.
I could probably come up with more reasons as to San Diego is America’s Finest City, but really, are they necessary?
Top Disadvantages of Living in San Diego
I’m all about honesty over here, so I wanted to include a few reasons why San Diego isn’t without its imperfections. Let’s take a look at five things that would make San Diego even better. We did quite a bit of research before making the plunge, so these aren’t necessarily what I wish I knew before moving to San Diego.
They’re more things to keep in mind if you’re on the fence and asking yourself, “Should I move to San Diego?”
1. The public transportation needs some work.
Can you live in San Diego without a car? You can live in San Diego without a car, but life will be more inconvenient and challenging.
There are buses in San Diego that go somewhere sometimes, and a trolley system that covers the downtown area for activities like San Diego Padres games. There are long-distance train stations that’ll get you up to Los Angeles in a potentially slower fashion than driving, depending on what obstacles await on the track.
Generally, though, San Diego is really lacking in the public transit department, particularly if you’re coming from a city like Chicago that’s covered extensively.
I’d love a subway or train system to not have to be so reliant on driving and the search for parking that happens as a result.
2. The cost of living is high.
Is San Diego expensive to live in? Yes, San Diego is very expensive to live in. You have to cover what I affectionately call the “sun tax” to live here and enjoy all of that sunshine, as is the case in much of Southern California. That means moving to San Diego without a job isn’t advised and the real estate market is always hot.
On top of paying for the pleasure of that eternal sun, San Diego is also a relatively safe big city to live in compared to the national average crime stats. The San Diego news is nowhere near as dire as what passes for information in cities like Chicago.
That means it’s always in demand when it comes to ideal places to live no matter what’s going on with the local job market.
That also means there are a lot of transplants here vying for the most budget-friendly San Diego apartments.
We paid a hefty price tag to live in San Diego but paid a similarly hefty price tag to live in Chicago, too, a place that’ll give you seasonal affective disorder if you’re not careful.
If you’re coming from somewhere with a much lower cost of living, though, you can experience some sticker shock when moving to San Diego.
When you’re looking for homes for sale in San Diego, that sticker shock can be even more shocking, especially when you realize that homes that are move-in ready and homes that need a ton of work go for the same price. Remind me to tell you about the hoarder house sometime.
3. It’s a desirable place to visit.
Hear me out on this one.
Living in a vacation destination like San Diego means a tourist season that never goes away. It’s not like New York City, a place that gets a bit of a reprieve in the dead of winter. There are tourists around all the time.
If you’ve developed a disdain for humans as I have, it can become a lot, particularly over school breaks and the summer months when you’d love to have a little bit more beach to yourself.
I know, I know. Poor me.
More visitors mean more traffic, more crowds at the best attractions, and longer waits at the best restaurants.
Again, not a huge deal, but it’s something to consider.
4. It can be hard to keep friends.
San Diego is very much a friendly place to live. It’s not that hard to make friends, particularly if you’re less awkward than I am.
It can be hard to keep friends, though, as San Diego is a very transient city. You may meet some locals who stuck around after a couple of years at San Diego State University, but those tend to be rare when you’re making connections.
I mean, I thought I was here to stay, and then things changed.
People move here for a bit of time to escape Midwestern winters, and then they come back from whence they came.
Another scenario is that they move here for the military, as the naval base here is the principal home of the Pacific Fleet, and then leave when their tour is up.
Maybe they get a job here and realize the cost of living just doesn’t make sense for them.
It’s a common occurrence to meet cool people who are only in your life for a limited period of time when you’re living in San Diego.
5. Homelessness is a real problem.
A visible homeless population isn’t unique to San Diego. California overall struggles with figuring out solutions for its unhoused citizens. While Los Angeles tops the list, San Diego is firmly within the top 10 cities in the country with the largest homeless population.
There’s a feeling of helplessness when you realize how bad it really is while you’re visiting (or living in) San Diego. This is a city with so many riches in terms of its natural resources and literal rich people, and yet we have people living on the streets in tent communities.
As the cost of living in the city only continues to rise, I don’t see this problem going away anytime soon. City leaders talk more about banning homeless encampments than real problem-solving. It’s one of the biggest issues this city faces.
6. It’s almost too nice all the time.
How is the weather in San Diego throughout the year? The weather in San Diego is pretty perfect throughout the year. You won’t find anywhere else on the planet that has more days that are 72 degrees and sunny.
How is this a con, though?
Sometimes a girl wants some rain to feel alive.
When it’s in the 80s in January it makes you feel a little nutty, particularly if you grew up shoveling your sidewalks for several months out of the year.
I’m not saying the shoveling is preferable. It did give me an itch to see some seasons from time to time, though.
Luckily, there are day trips with which to do just that!
7. It may ruin you for anywhere else.
If you think you’ll have an easy time leaving San Diego, I have to warn you. There’s a reason my reasons to move to San Diego are more numerous.
When we became nomads after leaving San Diego, we planned to find somewhere to settle eventually for the long term that we liked just as much as San Diego. It hasn’t happened. For all of the reasons listed and some intangibles that may be tougher to explain, San Diego carved out a place in our hearts that we still haven’t filled.
The weather alone can ruin you for anywhere else, especially if you’re acclimated to a steady 72 and sunny with no room or time for anything else.
If the cost of life in San Diego wasn’t so dang high, we’d likely have firm plans to come back. Keep clicking on those ads to help us make it happen, k?
Life in San Diego: FAQs
How much do you need to live comfortably in San Diego?
You need an annual salary in the $90,000 range to live comfortably in San Diego. The average rent in San Diego is approaching $2,000 per month. If you’re looking to spend no more than a quarter of your income on rent, that’s what it comes out to.
Make some pals because it’s likely you’re lookin’ for roomies.
If you’re moving here from any large city within the United States as we did from Chicago, the cost of living isn’t all that obvious until you try to buy property.
Which part of San Diego is best to live in?
The part that includes University Heights, North Park, and adorable South Park are the best areas of San Diego to live in.
I’m biased, though. We lived in North Park for seven years and absolutely loved the dining scene and walkability of that neighborhood. Where to live in San Diego for us came down to those kinds of things to keep us from driving every single day.
You may like the family-friendly vibes further inland. If you’re a younger person, you may prefer the party beach vibes of Pacific Beach. The Golden Hill area is close to downtown for folks who need that accessibility. There’s no shortage of great areas in San Diego.
What is the social and cultural scene like in San Diego?
The social and cultural scene is great in San Diego. Balboa Park is home to some of the city’s best museums, and outdoor concerts and live performances are common throughout the year. If you’re here for the nightlife, downtown San Diego and the city’s Gaslamp Quarter are popular hot spots.
Do you regret moving to San Diego?
No part of me regrets moving to San Diego. We made friends that we still keep in touch with, no matter where they moved to post-San Diego. I’m able to say I lived in one of America’s best cities (if not the best city) for seven full years.
It was a great call financially, too. If we never bought a home here, we would never have been able to sell that home and enjoy several years of nomadic adventures. We’re very lucky.
Is San Diego a good place to live?
San Diego is a very good place to live if you can afford it. Its beautiful weather, fun neighborhoods, and year-round opportunity for outdoor recreation offer a high quality of life.
What’s it like living in San Diego?
Living in San Diego can feel like a dream. It’s surreal to live in a city with nearly perfect weather all year. The laid-back lifestyle is easy to embrace, too.
Why do people love living in San Diego?
People love living in San Diego for the weather, numerous opportunities for outdoor recreation, and the weather. Yes, it’s that good that it bears repeating.
In my view, there are more reasons to live there vs. reasons not to move to San Diego if you have the means to do so. When it comes to the pros and cons of San Diego, the positives outweigh the bad stuff.
This is even though we’ve moved away since. (It’s complicated.)
Life in San Diego was a dream for us, and we’ll certainly return to America’s Finest City again and again. It just may be as visitors from now on!
Ready for San Diego?
Your Flight: I use a variety of tools to find cheap airfare, but if you’re looking to book during a particular period of time, especially during busy times (e.g. school breaks), you should use Skyscanner.
It’s a great tool for when you’re more flexible, too, as it allows you to compare travel based on length of travel, departure date, etc. Unlike San Francisco and Los Angeles, deals to San Diego International Airport aren’t super common, but it helps if you’re able to watch flights for a while.
Adventurous folks may love subscribing to Going, formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights. You’ll get all kinds of deals in your inbox throughout the year, even to and from San Diego.
Your Accommodations: I recommend Booking.com and Hotels.com as your main options for accommodations in San Diego, or Vrbo if you’re seeking something Airbnb-like that isn’t that site.
Seeking even more wallet-friendly accommodations? Try Hostelworld. Their picks are heavily vetted and reviewed to offer you a safe experience on a budget.
Etc.: For general travel goodies, visit my Favorite Things page. For more information on planning your travel, visit my Travel Tools page.
Ready to join the San Diegans? Pin it for later!
Looking for more San Diego city guides and adventures nearby? Here you go:
- Get Spooky at the Whaley House, San Diego
- A Detailed Guide to Coronado “Island”
- Meet the Locals of Ocean Beach, San Diego
- Don’t Miss This Guide to Beautiful La Jolla
- Some Like it Hot…at Death Valley National Park
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Love San Diego!! :)
Don’t I know it!