If you’re thinking about moving to San Diego on a budget, you’d be surprised to find out that San Diego is more affordable than people think.
Welcome to America’s Finest City, where the sun-kissed beaches, vibrant culture, and endless adventures await!
But wait, isn’t San Diego one of the most expensive places to live in the United States?
Fear not, intrepid budget-conscious traveler, for we’re about to spill the beans on how you can savor the San Diego experience without breaking the bank. From budget-friendly housing options like Adventure Hostel Co-Live in the heart of Little Italy to insider tips and tricks, we’ve got your budget-friendly move to San Diego covered.
Moving to San Diego Without a Job
San Diego has a big job market so even if you move without a current job, it shouldn’t be too hard to find a job once you arrive, regardless of your prior experience.
You can also move to San Diego and work as a freelancer. One of the easiest ways to do this without any prior experience is to apply to San Diego Brand Ambassador Facebook groups like the one here.
You can also doing freelancing in other lines of work too, such as social media, writing, graphic design, marketing, and basically anything you can do online; someone out there is willing to pay for it.
The average pay rate for a brand ambassador is about $20/hr so if you can find consistent work as a freelance brand ambassador in San Diego, you shouldn’t have too much of a problem making ends meet.
Moving to San Diego Reddit
You can find listing of people looking who are moving to San Diego and looking for roommates on Reddit. You can also find apartment housing suggestions according to locals to locals as well as honest neighborhood comparisons. We HIGHLY recommend checking out you living options in person before signing any kind of lease or agreement.
Moving to San Diego With No Money
One of the pros of San Diego is that it is not as expensive as Los Angeles or San Francisco.
One of the things you can do is to find a volunteer program in San Diego for a couple of months where accommodation is provided for free in exchange for your skills and services. This is honestly one of the cheapest ways to experience a new city and get a feel for the vibe to see if you want to get an apartment there and sign a lease before making a big commitment.
You can find volunteer opportunities for San Diego on World Packers; ITH offers volunteer options for all three locations in San Diego!
Partaking in the activities that happen around town is a great way to get engaged in the community for someone that is a new arrival. There is free yoga, beach volleyball at Ocean Beach, and always a park to hike and enjoy free of charge.
The best thing about San Diego is how easy it is to be outside all year round and these natural wonders come free of charge!
Moving to San Diego Alone
If you are moving to San Diego alone, your best bet is to check Facebook groups to find rentals and find/make connections. On Facebook groups, you can even find people looking for roommates in San Diego to make your rent cheaper and more affordable.
The average rent in San Diego is $2,400 if you want to live alone.
You can also find private rooms or entire apartments for rent monthly on Airbnb or Vrbo. Airbnb is a great option to test out a variety of local neighborhoods and cultures before settling down in one area. You have the flexibility of renting a place for a few nights up to a few months. This is a great way to test out different neighborhoods when you are new to the city.
Tips To Live Cheaply in San Diego
Use Public Transportation
San Diego has a bus system that can take you all across the county. The bus is only $2.50 making it a really affordable way to move around San Diego.
All over San Diego, you will see electric scooters parked along the curbs. Simply download the app and for a few bucks, you can go all over the city! This is both fun and efficient way to get where you need to go.
Ubers are great when you are trying to get from the Downtown area to some of the outer neighborhoods or the beaches. Taking an Uber will save you time, but will cost you a bit more.
The best way to get around the city is the Trolley System. These bright red trains are easy to spot, have three different lines (blue, orange, and green) and span more than 50 miles of the city.
Find an Apartment in a Less Expensive Neighborhood
Chula Vista and Linda Vista are some of the most affordable neighborhoods in San Diego. The cost of living in Hillcrest San Diego is 25% less than other neighborhoods in San Diego. You can expect Downtown, Coronado, Windansea, and La Jolla to be some of the most expensive neighborhoods.
Consider Co-living
Frst off, “what is Co-living anyway?”
If you are new to urban living, finding affordable rent can be tricky. Co-living is a shared accommodation. You can rent a bed or a private room on a monthly basis. The bathrooms, kitchen, and common room areas are shared.
This housing option is a great way to make friends and meet people from everywhere. Co-living is a way to not feel isolated in an urban setting. It is for those that are not looking to spend all their money on where they sleep. Ultimately Co-living is about making housing affordable so you can spend your money on what you want while living in an exciting city.
The ITH Adventure and Beach Bungalow hostels are purposely located in very convenient places.
Best Places To Eat in San Diego on a Budget
Eat Out at Local & Authentic Restaurants
Even if you are on a budget, it is still nice to eat out sometimes. So what do you do? Find the places that the locals already know about. Locally based restaurants will give you the authentic San Diego food experience, better quality, and sustainability. And of course, be less expensive so you can enjoy your meal. Here are a few places to get you going…
Best overall cheap Mexican food: El Indio Mexican Restaurant
Best burgers: Crazee Burger
San Diego Only Deals: The Crack Shack, Snack Shack, Point Loma Seafood
