According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in San Diego, California are 129.54% higher in 2025 versus 2003 (a $88,090.05 difference in value).
Between 2003 and 2025, San Diego experienced an average inflation rate of 3.85% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $68,000 in San Diego in the year 2003 would cost $156,090.05 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.58% during this same period, inflation in San Diego was higher.
In the year 2003: Pricing changed by 6.93%, which is significantly above the average yearly change in San Diego during the 2003-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2003 (2.27%), inflation in San Diego was much higher.
The official rate is based on an average household's spending, so your own inflation rate is probably different. The personal inflation calculator works it out from your budget.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in San Diego, over time, for $68,000 beginning in 2003. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | $68,000.00 | 6.93% |
| 2004 | $71,691.92 | 5.43% |
| 2005 | $74,324.92 | 3.67% |
| 2006 | $77,043.77 | 3.66% |
| 2007 | $79,870.81 | 3.67% |
| 2008 | $83,453.97 | 4.49% |
| 2009 | $85,434.16 | 2.37% |
| 2010 | $85,418.42 | -0.02% |
| 2011 | $86,153.37 | 0.86% |
| 2012 | $88,224.56 | 2.40% |
| 2013 | $90,105.44 | 2.13% |
| 2014 | $91,879.28 | 1.97% |
| 2015 | $95,476.46 | 3.92% |
| 2016 | $99,292.02 | 4.00% |
| 2017 | $104,663.62 | 5.41% |
| 2018 | $110,383.80 | 5.47% |
| 2019 | $114,313.84 | 3.56% |
| 2020 | $117,577.32 | 2.85% |
| 2021 | $120,150.22 | 2.19% |
| 2022 | $128,178.00 | 6.68% |
| 2023 | $140,632.07 | 9.72% |
| 2024 | $148,978.38 | 5.93% |
| 2025 | $156,090.05 | 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 |