Cost of Living Comparison

San Diego vs Charlotte

How does the cost of living in San Diego, CA stack up against Charlotte, NC?

38%

lower cost of living in Charlotte vs San Diego

Median home: $945K → $405K

What this means moving from San Diego to Charlotte

Salary equivalent. A $100,000 salary in San Diego supports roughly the same standard of living as $62K in Charlotte, based on San Diego’s overall index of 162 against Charlotte’s baseline of 100.

Housing budget. The median home in Charlotte runs about $405K versus $945K in San Diego — roughly $540K less to buy in at the middle of the market.

Where the gap is widest. Housing shows the biggest difference of the four categories: San Diego sits at 235 against Charlotte’s 100, a 135-point premium.

San Diego
CA
vs
Charlotte
NC
162
Overall Index
−62 pts
100
235
Housing
−135 pts
100
118
Groceries
−18 pts
100
108
Utilities
−8 pts
100
122
Transportation
−22 pts
100

Indices relative to Charlotte = 100. Sourced from Numbeo & BestPlaces (2024 public data). Treat as directional estimates.

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY
Equal Housing Opportunity

Mike Perlosky, REALTOR®

NC Real Estate License #292411

Christie’s International Real Estate

Ivester Jackson

1515 Mockingbird Lane Suite 900
Charlotte, NC 28209

Office: 704.817.9826·Direct: 704.771.0130

mikeperlosky@ivesterjackson.com

Mike Perlosky is a licensed real estate broker in North Carolina. Christie’s International Real Estate | Ivester Jackson supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Not intended to solicit properties already listed.

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