Report: Nearly a third of San Diego County households struggle with basic living expenses
(Above: Nexstar Media Wire video on how much it costs to raise a child in the U.S.)
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Nearly a third of households in San Diego County are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living, matching a trend seen statewide, new data shows.
A report by the United Ways of California released Tuesday says 31% of households — roughly over 323,000 families — in the Greater San Diego region (which encompasses both San Diego County and part of Imperial County) fall below the estimated income needed to meet basic needs.
For example, the median household income for two adults with one preschooler and one school-aged child is $83,779, compared to the estimated median income needed to meet basic needs of at least $95,000.
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This is according to the Real Cost Measure reflected in the report, which used data gathered from 2023. It estimates the income required for basic costs of living such as food, housing, transportation, health care and others.
Another staggering piece of the report shows that half of all households in the region with children under the age of six are not earning enough to make ends meet.
Additionally, it shows that a household of two adults, one preschooler and one school-aged child should budget at least $17,000 for the cost of child care in the Greater San Diego area.
Meanwhile, an estimated 35% of households in the state of California have a difficult time meeting basic living expenses, the report says.
Housing is the most expensive category to budget for, followed by food and transportation (or child care for those with children).
The United Way of California provides an interactive tool for people to calculate the minimum amount their household needs to make ends meet.
To calculate their budget, users must select the name of their county from a drop-down menu and enter the ages of everyone in their household.
The Real Cost Measure does not include other expenses such as major purchases and college or retirement funds.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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