With sun-splashed beaches, scenic hiking trails, world-class museums, and unending eateries, enjoying the best of San Diego is a snap. More to the point, it doesn’t have to cost a penny. Some of the region’s best sights, most delicious bites, and finest cultural institutions are free or cheap. To boot, hotels all over town cater to families and a range of budget needs and tastes.
Reasonable Hotels in Mission Valley
Centrally located Mission Valley is a stone’s throw from the San Diego International Airport and home to several reasonably priced hotels. You’ll be in striking distance of the beach, downtown, and many must-see neighborhoods and attractions. Check out hotels in this area.
Fun and Free
All of San Diego’s beaches and bays are free and open to the public, as are many of Old Town State Park’s historic buildings. For a dose of art and culture, head to Balboa Park. You’ll find the wonderful Botanic Building, Sunday and seasonal concerts at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion and the Timken Museum — all free of charge. For nature lovers, San Diego offers a host of beautiful trails and miles of pathed bike path that only require wheels and comfortable shoes to enjoy. For more great ideas, check out this list of 25 fun and free things to do around town.
Beach Picnic
Make a beach outing into a day trip by bringing along some grub. Savor the view (and the high-flying action) from Torrey Pines Gliderport and Black’s Beach, to name one dreamy area. In Point Loma, the Sunset Cliffs Natural Park is a gateway to secluded bluff-lined beaches. Some coves there offer the rare chance to have a slice of the California coast all to yourself. Pack a lunch and bring a blanket to Ellen Browning Scripps Park in La Jolla, on the cliffs above one of most picturesque coastlines in the world.
Outdoor Enthusiasts
Get a low-cost dose of the natural world at the Living Coast Discovery Center, the Birch Aquarium at Scripps and any of San Diego’s famed botanical gardens. Head to La Jolla Cove to get a glimpse of dozens – if not hundreds, depending on the time of year — seals in their natural habitat. Just remember to stay at least 20 feet away. San Diego is also home to several wildlife preserves and miles of wetlands to explore free of charge. Plus, these areas happen to be in the Pacific migratory flight path.
San Diego was made for stretching your legs in the sun. Grab a bike and pedal on the 24-mile Bayshore Bikeway, bike-friendly boardwalks, or the many roads and trails adored by cyclists. Lessons and rentals of surfboards or paddleboards are always an option, too. Whether you want calm waters or waves, there’s a place to find either, any day of the year.
Boat on a Budget
For under $5, climb aboard the Coronado Ferry for its scenic 15-minute jaunt to the island within San Diego Bay. Once there, rent a bike and tour the charming neighborhoods or visit the historic Hotel Del Coronado.
Stroll a Pier or Boardwalk
There’s never a bad time to grab an ice cream or refreshing acai bowl and stroll along one of San Diego’s pedestrian-friendly piers or boardwalks in Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, Oceanside and elsewhere.
Join the Community
San Diegans are an active bunch you can join for yoga classes on the beach and in parks. Slow things down a notch with meditation at the Self-Realization Fellowship Encinitas Temple. This is one of many locales offering free or cheap guided or solo meditation.
Cheap Eats and Happy Hours
San Diego’s best bites are found at every price point from homegrown eateries locals swear by. Get authentic New York-style pizza by the slice at Hillcrest’s Bronx Pizza. For bahn mi and other Vietnamese submarine sandwiches, hit up the beloved K Sandwiches. When it comes to tacos and burritos, the choices are endless. But you can’t get any more old-school or delicious than the family-run Las Cuatro Milpas, a stone’s throw from downtown. In North Park, The Friendly has built a following around its nostalgic Dirty Flat Top Burger (priced at a budget-friendly $6). Even higher-end restaurants often have great budget deals. Happy hours provide a chance to eat at some of the city’s best restaurants, and at far lower than full price. Look for happy hours and discounts at spots like Mister A’s, C Level, The Grass Skirt, Lion’s Share, Blind Lady Ale House.
> 7 of the Best Cheap Eats in San Diego
FAQs
The data used in the study analyzed the cost of living in each city as of 2022. For California cities like Los Angeles, Berkeley and San Diego, a single person must make more than $76,000 to “live comfortably,” the data shows.
Is $70,000 enough to live in San Diego? ›
You can live comfortably (assuming you are single) with 70000$ in San Diego. But, if you have a family or want to start a family with 70k $, San Diego may not be as good as we think. Even if you are single and want to save money, it is difficult to save money.
How much salary do I need to live in San Diego? ›
A Zillow study revealed the median income should be $273,613 annually to comfortably afford a typical home in San Diego. Another study showed it could take a couple more than a decade to save for a down payment on a home and up to five decades for single people. “That's a lot of money.
Is 200k enough for San Diego? ›
San Diego is among seven major metro markets where a household's income must exceed $200,000 to comfortably afford a typical home, according to new research.
Is $20 an hour a livable wage in California? ›
A person must earn $44,175 a year (before taxes) — or $21.24 an hour — to make a livable wage in California now, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's living wage calculator, which is updated annually.
What is the 50 30 20 rule? ›
The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.
What is the cheapest way to live in San Diego? ›
10 Most Affordable San Diego Neighborhoods
- East County.
- Point Loma Heights.
- Mira Mesa.
- South I-15 Corridor.
- Scripps Ranch.
- Midway District.
- Hillcrest.
- Uptown San Diego.
$119,500
| San Diego County Income Limits Effective April 17, 2024 |
|---|
| Family Size | 30% of AMI Extremely Low Income | 50% of AMI Very Low Income |
|---|
| 1 | 31,850 | 53,050 |
| 2 | 36,400 | 60,600 |
| 3 | 40,950 | 68,200 |
5 more rowsIn a new report commissioned by San Diego Foundation and developed in partnership with the San Diego Regional Policy & Innovation Center, research shows that 11% of San Diego County residents – or 335,000 people – live below the federal poverty line ($24,860 or less annually for a family of four) due to a lack of self- ...
What is a good monthly salary in San Diego? ›
Average Salary in San Diego, CA
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay |
|---|
| Top Earners | $98,625 | $8,218 |
| 75th Percentile | $88,835 | $7,402 |
| Average | $69,665 | $5,805 |
| 25th Percentile | $50,495 | $4,207 |
Boston: $124,966. San Diego: $122,803. Chula Vista, California: $122,803. San Francisco: $119,558.
What is middle class in San Diego? ›
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median income in 2021 was $70,784. So American families earning between $47,189 and $141,568 are technically in the middle class. The middle class range in San Diego, Chula Vista and Carlsbad is $61,000 to $182,000.
Is San Diego the most unaffordable city? ›
San Diego has clinched the top position on the 2023-2024 list of the Most Expensive Places to Reside in the United States, a ranking released by U.S. News & World Report.
Why is San Diego so expensive? ›
Housing: San Diego's housing market is one of the key drivers of its high cost of living. With beautiful coastal views and limited land availability, property prices are steep. Taxes: California is known for its high tax rates, and San Diego is no exception.
Who can afford a house in San Diego? ›
The new numbers from Zillow confirm it is expensive to be a homeowner in San Diego. San Diego families need an income of nearly $275,000 a year to afford a mortgage on a home, which is nearly double what it was before the pandemic, according to a new report from the real estate website Zillow.
Can you live comfortably on 60000 a year in California? ›
Generally speaking, $60,000 per year is considered a modest income in California, especially in areas like San Francisco or Los Angeles where the cost of living is high. However, it is possible to live a comfortable lifestyle in California with this salary if you manage your expenses carefully.
Is 55K a year good in San Diego? ›
$55K is a decent yearly income. But please remember that some people have gone for lesser income but have managed their finances well.
What salary is considered rich in San Diego? ›
The site used U.S. Census Bureau income data to determine the salary a household needs to earn to be in the city's top 20% of earners – what they define as “rich.” In San Diego, you'll need to earn $157,252 or more to be considered a “rich” person in the top 20% of the city's 1.4 million residents.
