Retiring in San Diego, CA

Retirement city profile: climate, cost of living, healthcare, safety and more

74°/49°

Climate (Summer/Winter)

$1,007,800

Housing (Typical Value)

414.3

Safety (Violent Crime/100,000)

4 of 5

Healthcare (Hospital Rating)

Is San Diego Right for Your Retirement?

With a reported population of 1,385,061, San Diego offers a large-city setting for retirement planning. This profile brings its climate, housing, reported crime, healthcare access, walkability and natural hazard exposure into one view so you can evaluate the tradeoffs.

Potential Strengths

Strong hospital access
Low tornado risk
Low hurricane risk
Low tsunami risk

Potential Tradeoffs

Dry climate
Higher housing costs
Higher violent crime
Elevated riverine flooding risk
Elevated wildfire risk
Elevated earthquake risk

Potential advantages. The nearest hospital is Sharp Memorial Hospital, 1 mile away. Its CMS quality rating is 4 of 5. FEMA and NOAA assign lower risk designations to tornado, hurricane and tsunami.

Potential tradeoffs. Annual precipitation is 9.3 inches. The typical home value is $1,007,800, 171% above the $371,774 US median. Median gross rent is $2,223 per month, 59% above the $1,400 per month US median. The reported violent crime rate is 414.3 per 100,000, 15% above the 359.1 per 100,000 US median. FEMA and NOAA assign elevated risk designations to riverine flooding, wildfire and earthquake.

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Climate

Summer high (Jun-Aug avg)74°F

Winter low (Dec-Feb avg)49°F

Annual snowfall0"

Annual precipitation9.3"

Housing & Cost of Living

Typical home value (ZHVI)$1,007,800171% above the $371,774 US median

Median gross rent$2,223/mo59% above the $1,400/mo US median

Safety (Reported Crime)

Violent crime rate414.3 /100,00015% above the 359.1 /100,000 US median

Property crime rate1693.6 /100,000near the US median of 1760.1 /100,000

Motor vehicle theft rate396.8 /100,000

Healthcare Access

Nearest hospitalSharp Memorial Hospital (1 mi)

Hospital quality★★★★☆ (4 of 5)

Primary care accessStrong (1,185 residents/physician)

Walkability

EPA Walkability Index12.5/20 (Above Average)

Population & City Size

Population1,385,061Classified as a large city

Elevation416 ft

Natural Disaster Risk

Riverine floodingVery High

Coastal floodingRelatively Moderate

TornadoRelatively Low

HurricaneVery Low

WildfireVery High

EarthquakeRelatively High

Ice stormsN/A

TsunamiRelatively Low

Sources & Freshness

Crime: FBI UCR/NIBRS · Climate: NOAA Climate Normals · Natural disaster risk: FEMA National Risk Index & NOAA · Hospital location & distance: HIFLD · Hospital quality rating: CMS Hospital Compare · Primary care access: HRSA county-level provider data · Home value: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) · Rent: Census ACS place-level data · Population & elevation: US Census Bureau · Walkability: EPA National Walkability Index.
National median/average figures used for comparison (home value, rent, crime, precipitation) are recalculated annually from the same source datasets above.
Data last refreshed: August 2026.
Figures are comparative indicators and may not reflect neighborhood-level conditions. Confirm current housing, healthcare and hazard information with the cited sources before making a relocation decision.

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