Atlanta to San Diego salary comparison
How much salary do I need when moving from Atlanta, GA to San Diego, CA? Compare cost of living and after-tax take-home between both cities. Equivalent salary needed, rent & mortgage by city, and % of income on housing—use the calculator for a personalized comparison.
Disclaimer
All results are estimates only and not legal, tax, or financial advice. Cost of living, rent, and tax figures vary by neighborhood and over time. Use this tool for planning only; verify with official sources or a professional before making relocation decisions.
This cost of living calculator uses cost-of-living indices (100 = national average) for Atlanta, GA and San Diego, CA. It finds the equivalent gross salary you’d need in San Diego, CA to keep the same standard of living as in Atlanta, GA, then runs full federal and state tax calculations for both locations so you see after-tax take-home in each city.
- Equivalent salary needed — Gross pay in San Diego, CA that matches your current lifestyle.
- % increase or decrease — How much more or less gross you’d need when relocating.
- After-tax comparison — Take-home in Atlanta, GA vs. take-home in San Diego, CA at your current or equivalent salary.
Use the calculator with Atlanta, GA and San Diego, CA pre-selected to enter your salary and get your personalized comparison.
Atlanta, GA has a cost-of-living index of 95 (100 = national average); San Diego, CA has 142. Moving to San Diego, CA typically requires a higher gross salary to maintain the same lifestyle, before accounting for state tax differences.
Our tool includes federal and state income tax, Social Security, and Medicare for both cities, plus optional estimates for housing, commute, and one-time moving costs. Use the calculator above for your exact numbers.
The calculator’s optional Housing Cost section shows average rent by city for studio, 1–3 BR apartments and 2–4 BR houses (or a mortgage estimate if you plan to buy), plus the percentage of income on housing in Atlanta, GA and San Diego, CA. Use the calculator above to see numbers for your salary and household size.
Our estimates use the same data sources as the main relocation calculator. We are not affiliated with these organizations.
- Cost of living indicesUS: C2ER-style indices. Canada: Statistics Canada and Numbeo-style benchmarks. 100 = national average.
- HousingApproximate median rent and price-to-rent by city (Zillow, Statista, CMHC for Canada). Values vary by neighborhood.
- TaxesFederal plus state income tax, Social Security, Medicare. Local/city taxes (e.g. NYC, Philadelphia) where applicable. For official tax rates and forms, see our Sources page.