According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in San Diego, California are 351.86% higher in 2025 versus 1985 (a $487,690.79 difference in value).
Between 1985 and 2025:San Diego experienced an average inflation rate of 3.84% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $138,603 in San Diego in the year 1985 would cost $626,293.79 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.78% during this same period, inflation in San Diego was higher.
In the year 1985: Pricing changed by 10.84%, which is significantly above the average yearly change in San Diego during the 1985-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1985 (3.55%), inflation in San Diego was much higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in San Diego, over time, for $138,603 beginning in 1985. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | $138,603.00 | 10.84% |
| 1986 | $149,167.60 | 7.62% |
| 1987 | $154,909.24 | 3.85% |
| 1988 | $160,191.54 | 3.41% |
| 1989 | $166,048.00 | 3.66% |
| 1990 | $173,282.46 | 4.36% |
| 1991 | $176,382.94 | 1.79% |
| 1992 | $177,646.10 | 0.72% |
| 1993 | $176,153.27 | -0.84% |
| 1994 | $175,693.94 | -0.26% |
| 1995 | $176,727.44 | 0.59% |
| 1996 | $179,138.92 | 1.36% |
| 1997 | $183,502.56 | 2.44% |
| 1998 | $192,574.34 | 4.94% |
| 1999 | $205,205.93 | 6.56% |
| 2000 | $218,526.52 | 6.49% |
| 2001 | $236,325.58 | 8.15% |
| 2002 | $255,158.13 | 7.97% |
| 2003 | $272,842.36 | 6.93% |
| 2004 | $287,655.77 | 5.43% |
| 2005 | $298,220.37 | 3.67% |
| 2006 | $309,129.47 | 3.66% |
| 2007 | $320,472.64 | 3.67% |
| 2008 | $334,849.69 | 4.49% |
| 2009 | $342,794.96 | 2.37% |
| 2010 | $342,731.80 | -0.02% |
| 2011 | $345,680.70 | 0.86% |
| 2012 | $353,991.14 | 2.40% |
| 2013 | $361,537.94 | 2.13% |
| 2014 | $368,655.27 | 1.97% |
| 2015 | $383,088.59 | 3.92% |
| 2016 | $398,398.07 | 4.00% |
| 2017 | $419,951.01 | 5.41% |
| 2018 | $442,902.61 | 5.47% |
| 2019 | $458,671.43 | 3.56% |
| 2020 | $471,765.80 | 2.85% |
| 2021 | $482,089.25 | 2.19% |
| 2022 | $514,299.81 | 6.68% |
| 2023 | $564,270.38 | 9.72% |
| 2024 | $597,759.03 | 5.93% |
| 2025 | $626,293.79 | 4.77%* |
* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for San Diego, California:
| Year | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| CPI | 108.900 | 120.700 | 129.900 | 134.900 | 139.500 | 144.600 | 150.900 | 153.600 | 154.700 | 153.400 | 153.000 | 153.900 | 156.000 | 159.800 | 167.700 | 178.700 | 190.300 | 205.800 | 222.200 | 237.600 | 250.500 | 259.700 | 269.200 | 279.078 | 291.598 | 298.517 | 298.462 | 301.030 | 308.267 | 314.839 | 321.037 | 333.606 | 346.938 | 365.707 | 385.694 | 399.426 | 410.829 | 419.819 | 447.869 | 491.385 | 520.548 | 545.397 |