According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in San Diego, California are 351.86% higher in 2025 versus 1985 (a $523,570.12 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, $148,800 in San Diego in the year 1985 would cost $672,370.12 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 $148,800 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 | $148,800.00 | 10.84% |
| 1986 | $160,141.84 | 7.62% |
| 1987 | $166,305.88 | 3.85% |
| 1988 | $171,976.80 | 3.41% |
| 1989 | $178,264.13 | 3.66% |
| 1990 | $186,030.82 | 4.36% |
| 1991 | $189,359.40 | 1.79% |
| 1992 | $190,715.49 | 0.72% |
| 1993 | $189,112.84 | -0.84% |
| 1994 | $188,619.72 | -0.26% |
| 1995 | $189,729.25 | 0.59% |
| 1996 | $192,318.14 | 1.36% |
| 1997 | $197,002.82 | 2.44% |
| 1998 | $206,742.00 | 4.94% |
| 1999 | $220,302.90 | 6.56% |
| 2000 | $234,603.48 | 6.49% |
| 2001 | $253,712.01 | 8.15% |
| 2002 | $273,930.07 | 7.97% |
| 2003 | $292,915.33 | 6.93% |
| 2004 | $308,818.56 | 5.43% |
| 2005 | $320,160.40 | 3.67% |
| 2006 | $331,872.08 | 3.66% |
| 2007 | $344,049.76 | 3.67% |
| 2008 | $359,484.53 | 4.49% |
| 2009 | $368,014.33 | 2.37% |
| 2010 | $367,946.53 | -0.02% |
| 2011 | $371,112.38 | 0.86% |
| 2012 | $380,034.21 | 2.40% |
| 2013 | $388,136.23 | 2.13% |
| 2014 | $395,777.18 | 1.97% |
| 2015 | $411,272.35 | 3.92% |
| 2016 | $427,708.16 | 4.00% |
| 2017 | $450,846.74 | 5.41% |
| 2018 | $475,486.89 | 5.47% |
| 2019 | $492,415.81 | 3.56% |
| 2020 | $506,473.53 | 2.85% |
| 2021 | $517,556.48 | 2.19% |
| 2022 | $552,136.76 | 6.68% |
| 2023 | $605,783.66 | 9.72% |
| 2024 | $641,736.06 | 5.93% |
| 2025 | $672,370.12 | 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 |