| Index | Serra Mesa | San Diego | California |
| Cost of living | 166 | 168 | 140 |
| Goods & Services | 113 | 113 | 111 |
| Groceries | 116 | 116 | 112 |
| Health care | 105 | 105 | 109 |
| Housing | 288 | 295 | 196 |
| Transportation | 127 | 127 | 126 |
| Utilities | 107 | 107 | 127 |
| Cost of living index | |
| Goods & Services index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Household | $84,829 | $7,069 | $1,979 | $2,545 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| California | 7.25% | 10.5% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| California | 1% | 13.3% |
| Item | San Diego | National avg. | Difference |
| Haircut | $26.92 | $24.26 | 10.9% |
| Beauty Salon | $65.77 | $45.56 | 44.3% |
| Toothpaste | $3.73 | $3.70 | 0.7% |
| Shampoo | $1.50 | $1.28 | 17.1% |
| Movie | $16.89 | $12.13 | 39.2% |
| Bowling | $24.67 | $18.00 | 37.1% |
| Item | San Diego | National avg. | Difference |
| Ground Beef | $5.47 | $5.84 | 6.3% |
| Fried Chicken | $3.05 | $1.57 | 93.7% |
| Milk | $4.98 | $4.67 | 6.5% |
| Potatoes | $4.94 | $4.93 | 0.0% |
| Pizza | $14.69 | $12.09 | 21.5% |
| Beer | $11.25 | $10.41 | 8.1% |
| Item | San Diego | National avg. | Difference |
| Optometrist | $138.66 | $125.68 | 10.3% |
| Doctor | $132.50 | $135.78 | 2.4% |
| Dentist | $121.37 | $113.29 | 7.1% |
| Ibuprofen | $12.01 | $10.65 | 12.7% |
| Lipitor | $508.17 | $468.60 | 8.4% |
| Item | San Diego | National avg. | Difference |
| Home Price | $629,500.00 | $184,700.00 | 240.8% |
| Avg. Mortgage Payment | $5,168.91 | $2,346.69 | 120.3% |
| Apartment Rent | $1,770.00 | $949.00 | 86.5% |
| Item | San Diego | National avg. | Difference |
| Gasoline | $4.68 | $3.46 | 35.1% |
| Tire Balancing | $64.40 | $59.92 | 7.5% |
| Item | San Diego | National avg. | Difference |
| All Electricity | $223.42 | $193.99 | 15.2% |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 | 6.2% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Spring Valley CDP (Lake County), CA | 1,154 | 105 | 5.2% |
| Bostonia, CA | 17,532 | 139 | 39.2% |
| National City, CA | 61,342 | 141 | 40.6% |
| Lakeside, CA | 21,032 | 144 | 44.0% |
| La Presa, CA | 37,410 | 144 | 44.1% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,414,545 | 168 | 68.2% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Calgary, AB | 1,371,990 | n/a | |
| Dallas, TX | 1,338,846 | 107 | 7.3% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,529,133 | 95 | 5.5% |
| Philadelphia, PA | 1,581,531 | 102 | 2.4% |
| Phoenix, AZ | 1,658,422 | 106 | 6.4% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,414,545 | 168 | 68.2% |
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