According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in San Diego, California are 351.86% higher in 2025 versus 1985 (a $161,011.89 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, $45,760 in San Diego in the year 1985 would cost $206,771.89 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 $45,760 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 | $45,760.00 | 10.84% |
| 1986 | $49,247.92 | 7.62% |
| 1987 | $51,143.53 | 3.85% |
| 1988 | $52,887.49 | 3.41% |
| 1989 | $54,821.01 | 3.66% |
| 1990 | $57,209.48 | 4.36% |
| 1991 | $58,233.11 | 1.79% |
| 1992 | $58,650.14 | 0.72% |
| 1993 | $58,157.28 | -0.84% |
| 1994 | $58,005.63 | -0.26% |
| 1995 | $58,346.84 | 0.59% |
| 1996 | $59,143.00 | 1.36% |
| 1997 | $60,583.66 | 2.44% |
| 1998 | $63,578.72 | 4.94% |
| 1999 | $67,749.06 | 6.56% |
| 2000 | $72,146.88 | 6.49% |
| 2001 | $78,023.26 | 8.15% |
| 2002 | $84,240.86 | 7.97% |
| 2003 | $90,079.34 | 6.93% |
| 2004 | $94,970.01 | 5.43% |
| 2005 | $98,457.93 | 3.67% |
| 2006 | $102,059.59 | 3.66% |
| 2007 | $105,804.55 | 3.67% |
| 2008 | $110,551.16 | 4.49% |
| 2009 | $113,174.30 | 2.37% |
| 2010 | $113,153.45 | -0.02% |
| 2011 | $114,127.03 | 0.86% |
| 2012 | $116,870.74 | 2.40% |
| 2013 | $119,362.33 | 2.13% |
| 2014 | $121,712.12 | 1.97% |
| 2015 | $126,477.30 | 3.92% |
| 2016 | $131,531.76 | 4.00% |
| 2017 | $138,647.49 | 5.41% |
| 2018 | $146,225.00 | 5.47% |
| 2019 | $151,431.10 | 3.56% |
| 2020 | $155,754.23 | 2.85% |
| 2021 | $159,162.53 | 2.19% |
| 2022 | $169,796.90 | 6.68% |
| 2023 | $186,294.76 | 9.72% |
| 2024 | $197,351.09 | 5.93% |
| 2025 | $206,771.89 | 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 |