Data Sources & Methodology
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
CPI data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS CPI-U series), San Diego-Carlsbad MSA, monthly frequency.
Rental Costs
Fair Market Rents from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), annual frequency, San Diego County.
Housing Prices
Median and average home prices calculated from active MLS listings in our database. Property type breakdowns (detached, condo, townhouse) based on current inventory. Updated with each data refresh.
Income
Median household income from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS), most recently available year.
Computed Metrics
- Affordability Ratio: Median home price divided by median household income
- Salary Needed: Household income required for 30% housing cost ratio (80% LTV mortgage at 5.5%, 25-year amortization)
- Rent-to-Income: Annual 2BR rent as percentage of median household income
- Price-to-Rent: Median home price divided by annual 2BR rent
- Cost Index: City CPI all-items relative to national average (100 = national average)
Data last refreshed: March 4, 2026. This page is updated monthly with the latest available government data. Housing prices reflect current market inventory. All data is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice.