Question 1

Is Arlington or San Diego cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Arlington, TX is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $1,099/month less than in San Diego, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,723/mo in Arlington versus $3,001/mo in San Diego.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Arlington vs San Diego?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $75,500/year before tax in Arlington, TX and $106,500/year in San Diego, CA — a difference of about $31,000. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Arlington or San Diego cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Arlington, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $10,055/month in Arlington and $13,238/month in San Diego, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Arlington or San Diego?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Arlington costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Arlington71	San Diego66
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,277	$5,376
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$10,055	$13,238
Salary for comfort	$75,500/yr	$106,500/yr
Typical rent	$1,723	$3,001
Median home value	$276,400	$848,500
Median household income	$73,519	$104,321
Unemployment	4.7%	4.3%
Housing score	57	10
Jobs score	51	51
Safety score	65	100
Climate score	94	100
Amenities score	73	95
Population	394.8K	1.4M
Summer high / winter low	95° / 36°	75° / 49°

Arlington, TX vs San Diego, CA