San Diego, California prices: $20 in 2012 $31.88 in 2023

Inflation in California

$

Prices in San Diego, 2012-2023 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in San Diego, California are 59.40% higher in 2023 versus 2012 (a $11.88 difference in value).

Between 2012 and 2023: San Diego experienced an average inflation rate of 4.33% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $20 in San Diego in the year 2012 would cost $31.88 in 2023 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.61% during this same period, inflation in San Diego was higher.

In the year 2012: Pricing changed by 2.40%, which is below the average yearly change in San Diego during the 2012-2023 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2012 (2.07%), inflation in San Diego was higher.

Price Inflation in San Diego, California since 1984

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1985 (10.84%), 2023 (9.72%), and 2001 (8.15%).

View price changes for other categories
New York · Food · Fresh fruits · Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas · More

Buying power of $20.00 since 2012

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in San Diego, over time, for $20 beginning in 2012. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
2012$20.002.40%
2013$20.432.13%
2014$20.831.97%
2015$21.643.92%
2016$22.514.00%
2017$23.735.41%
2018$25.025.47%
2019$25.913.56%
2020$26.652.85%
2021$27.242.19%
2022$29.066.68%
2023$31.889.72%*

* 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:

Year1984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
CPI108.900120.700129.900134.900139.500144.600150.900153.600154.700153.400153.000153.900156.000159.800167.700178.700190.300205.800222.200237.600250.500259.700269.200279.078291.598298.517298.462301.030308.267314.839321.037333.606346.938365.707385.694399.426410.829419.819447.869491.385

Adjust San Diego prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2023 / CPI in 2012 * 2012 USD value = 2023 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for San Diego, California was 308.267 in the year 2012 and 491.385 in 2023:

491.385 / 308.267 * $20 = $31.88

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 2012 has the same "purchasing power" as $31.88 in 2023 (in the CPI category of San Diego, California).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for San Diego, California in 1984. In addition to San Diego, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

» Read more about inflation and investment.