What to know before you move: cost, market timing, who it fits.
If you're considering a move to San Diego, CA, the most important variables are the local housing market, the cost structure (taxes, insurance, utilities), and how well the city fits your day-to-day life. This page summarizes the housing market read; pair it with the cost of living page for the full picture.
San Diego is a city in San Diego County, California, with an estimated population of 1,404,452. It anchors the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area. The median home value in San Diego is $1,006,261 as of 2026-04, down 2.9% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +5.4% annual growth (-4.1% from the 5-year peak). Rents in San Diego average $2,942 per month, roughly flat year-over-year (+1.2%). The composite momentum score is 56 of 100 (Stable). Conditions are neither hot nor cold, so the local fit matters more than market timing.
Sideways market (-2.9% YoY). No urgency to time the macro trend — focus on the home and neighborhood.
Reasons people move here
- Healthy 5-year run: +5.4% annualized over 5 years, outpacing US inflation.
- Scale = optionality: 1,404,452 population gives you airports, hospitals, a deep job market, and a real cultural scene.
Things to know first
- Expensive AND not growing: median home $1,006,261 with only -2.9% YoY. You're paying premium pricing for a flat trend.
- Cooling: -2.9% over the trailing year — momentum has stalled.
More about San Diego
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.