Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Diego, CA
VS
St. George, UT
🏆 St. George leads 15 of 23 categories
San Diego
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,657 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
1,383,987 ✓ Larger
St. George
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,333
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
96,174
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Diego, CA
Pros
Households earn $29,324 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 102°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 54°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $783,300
Higher rents — median is $2,080/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than St. George
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
St. George, UT
Pros
Homes cost $368k less ($415,200 vs $783,300)
Rent averages $745/mo less ($1,335 vs $2,080)
49% less violent crime than San Diego
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than San Diego
Cons
Median income trails San Diego by $29,324/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Key Differences at a Glance
San Diego
Median Income
$29,324
$98,657 vs $69,333/yr
St. George
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
St. George
Violent Crime
49% lower
210.0 vs 412.2 per 100k
St. George
Median Home Value
$368k less
$415,200 vs $783,300
St. George
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
St. George
Summer Heat
22.1°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 79.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Diego, CA | St. George, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $783,300⚠ High | $415,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,080⚠ High | $1,335⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,657 ✓ Higher | $69,333 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.7% ✓ Higher | 32.6% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Diego Unified | Washington District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 54.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 79.8°F | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" | 9.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,383,987 ✓ Larger | 96,174 |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.6% | 67.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Diego's cost of living index is 111.5 vs St. George's 96.1 (US average = 100).
St. George is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. George leads 15 of 23 categories. San Diego wins 8 and St. George wins 15. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from San Diego to St. George or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($783,300 vs $415,200 median home), income ($98,657 vs $69,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Diego, CA and St. George, UT are about 357 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.