According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in San Diego, California are 351.86% higher in 2025 versus 1985 (a $13,061.10 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, $3,712 in San Diego in the year 1985 would cost $16,773.10 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 $3,712 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 | $3,712.00 | 10.84% |
| 1986 | $3,994.94 | 7.62% |
| 1987 | $4,148.71 | 3.85% |
| 1988 | $4,290.17 | 3.41% |
| 1989 | $4,447.02 | 3.66% |
| 1990 | $4,640.77 | 4.36% |
| 1991 | $4,723.80 | 1.79% |
| 1992 | $4,757.63 | 0.72% |
| 1993 | $4,717.65 | -0.84% |
| 1994 | $4,705.35 | -0.26% |
| 1995 | $4,733.03 | 0.59% |
| 1996 | $4,797.61 | 1.36% |
| 1997 | $4,914.48 | 2.44% |
| 1998 | $5,157.43 | 4.94% |
| 1999 | $5,495.73 | 6.56% |
| 2000 | $5,852.47 | 6.49% |
| 2001 | $6,329.16 | 8.15% |
| 2002 | $6,833.52 | 7.97% |
| 2003 | $7,307.14 | 6.93% |
| 2004 | $7,703.86 | 5.43% |
| 2005 | $7,986.80 | 3.67% |
| 2006 | $8,278.96 | 3.66% |
| 2007 | $8,582.75 | 3.67% |
| 2008 | $8,967.79 | 4.49% |
| 2009 | $9,180.57 | 2.37% |
| 2010 | $9,178.88 | -0.02% |
| 2011 | $9,257.86 | 0.86% |
| 2012 | $9,480.42 | 2.40% |
| 2013 | $9,682.54 | 2.13% |
| 2014 | $9,873.15 | 1.97% |
| 2015 | $10,259.70 | 3.92% |
| 2016 | $10,669.71 | 4.00% |
| 2017 | $11,246.93 | 5.41% |
| 2018 | $11,861.61 | 5.47% |
| 2019 | $12,283.92 | 3.56% |
| 2020 | $12,634.61 | 2.85% |
| 2021 | $12,911.09 | 2.19% |
| 2022 | $13,773.73 | 6.68% |
| 2023 | $15,112.02 | 9.72% |
| 2024 | $16,008.90 | 5.93% |
| 2025 | $16,773.10 | 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 |