According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in San Diego, California are 351.86% higher in 2025 versus 1985 (a $113,651.31 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, $32,300 in San Diego in the year 1985 would cost $145,951.31 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 $32,300 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 | $32,300.00 | 10.84% |
| 1986 | $34,761.97 | 7.62% |
| 1987 | $36,100.00 | 3.85% |
| 1988 | $37,330.99 | 3.41% |
| 1989 | $38,695.77 | 3.66% |
| 1990 | $40,381.69 | 4.36% |
| 1991 | $41,104.23 | 1.79% |
| 1992 | $41,398.59 | 0.72% |
| 1993 | $41,050.70 | -0.84% |
| 1994 | $40,943.66 | -0.26% |
| 1995 | $41,184.51 | 0.59% |
| 1996 | $41,746.48 | 1.36% |
| 1997 | $42,763.38 | 2.44% |
| 1998 | $44,877.46 | 4.94% |
| 1999 | $47,821.13 | 6.56% |
| 2000 | $50,925.35 | 6.49% |
| 2001 | $55,073.24 | 8.15% |
| 2002 | $59,461.97 | 7.97% |
| 2003 | $63,583.10 | 6.93% |
| 2004 | $67,035.21 | 5.43% |
| 2005 | $69,497.18 | 3.67% |
| 2006 | $72,039.44 | 3.66% |
| 2007 | $74,682.85 | 3.67% |
| 2008 | $78,033.27 | 4.49% |
| 2009 | $79,884.83 | 2.37% |
| 2010 | $79,870.11 | -0.02% |
| 2011 | $80,557.32 | 0.86% |
| 2012 | $82,493.99 | 2.40% |
| 2013 | $84,252.69 | 2.13% |
| 2014 | $85,911.31 | 1.97% |
| 2015 | $89,274.85 | 3.92% |
| 2016 | $92,842.56 | 4.00% |
| 2017 | $97,865.25 | 5.41% |
| 2018 | $103,213.89 | 5.47% |
| 2019 | $106,888.65 | 3.56% |
| 2020 | $109,940.15 | 2.85% |
| 2021 | $112,345.93 | 2.19% |
| 2022 | $119,852.27 | 6.68% |
| 2023 | $131,497.39 | 9.72% |
| 2024 | $139,301.58 | 5.93% |
| 2025 | $145,951.31 | 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 |