San Diego vs Austin – Full Guide for Where to Live or Visit in 2023
Have you ever wondered which city between San Diego vs Austin would be better for you? Our in-depth research breaks down all of their differences in 2023.
Whether you’re a traveler looking for a new place to visit or a professional who would like to relocate soon, we wrote this comprehensive guide to help you understand if you’re more of a San Diego or Austin type-of-person.
We divided this guide into seven main categories. In each of them, we breakdown the major similarities and differences between Austin vs San Diego so that you know exactly which one fits your lifestyle the most.
These categories are:
- Overview
- Reputation
- Climate
- Cost of living
- Job Market
- Things to Do for Travelers
- Things to Do for Residents
These two beautiful cities are among the most famous ones in the entire US, both known for their wonderful outdoors attractions and warm climate. While they share a lot of similarities, we will show you how they differ from one another in several key aspects.
Thus, if you are undecided between San Diego or Austin and you want to know where you should travel to or move to next, follow us on this journey through California and Texas.
1. San Diego vs Austin – Overview
San Diego is one of the southernmost cities in California and is one of the top 10 most populated cities in the US.
San Diego is home to more than 1.4 million residents living in its downtown core and 3.2 million people living in its metropolitan area.
Austin is the capital city of Texas and has the 11th biggest population in America. Austin houses approximately 960,000 residents within its city limits and roughly 2.1 million people in its metropolitan area.
Both San Diego and Austin have been experiencing tremendous population growth over the last few years.
Austin even topped the list of the fastest growing cities in the US in terms of absolute population growth, with roughly 100 people moving to Austin everyday, on average.
Location-wise, San Diego is located right on the shores of the Pacific Ocean and is only about 1 hour from the Mexican border in Southern California.
Austin is situated right in the heart of Texas and is only a 1 hour drive from San Antonio and a 2 to 3 hour drive to Houston or Dallas.
According to the data and to residents’ feedback, both San Diego and Austin have a similar livability score and both of them offer great amenities for their residents as well as travelers.
Apart from their location on the map, another important difference between these two cities is their crime rate.
In fact, Austin has a far worse rating than San Diego when it comes to property crimes. But, just like any city, there are many good and some not-so-good neighborhoods scattered across both Austin and San Diego.
2. San Diego vs Austin – Reputation
San Diego’s nickname is “America’s Finest City,” while one of the most common mottos in Austin is “Keep Austin Weird.” Just by reading this, we can imagine that you are already starting to shape your idea of what the reputation of these cities may be.
San Diego is well-known for its miles and miles of sandy beaches and a climate that is close to perfect.
Additionally, it is a city that, according to its residents and visitors, has basically everything you may be looking for.
There are outdoor attractions, museums, waterfront amenities, a vibrant nightlife, a wide range of restaurants and cafes, and a lively artistic scene that creates a magical atmosphere around the entire city.
Surrounded by such beauty, San Diego’s residents are known to be extremely laid-back and friendly to newcomers as well.
Meanwhile, the “weird” Austin offers a funky, yet charming atmosphere that can be felt all around the city, which is mostly known for its energetic live music scene and countless outdoor attractions that are found all around the city.
Austin and the surrounding area features gorgeous public parks, lakes, mountains, and waterfalls that residents and visitors can enjoy all year round.
Austin is also known for its liberal atmosphere, which is well-reflected in its wide-ranging entertainment scene, from its live shows of virtually any music genre, to its lively nightlife, and to its renowned artistic community.
3. San Diego vs Austin – Climate
When it comes to the climate, the comparison between Austin vs San Diego shows us how they start to separate from one another.
San Diego has probably one of the best climates in the world. Temperatures usually never go above 84°F or below 40°F.
The summers in San Diego are also warm, but not humid, making them extremely comfortable for residents and tourists.
Winters can be a bit cold at times, but precipitation is rare, as rainfall is infrequent and snow in Southern California doesn’t exist.
The weather in Austin is a bit different. Summers are longer and winters are shorter while the range of temperatures is more extreme here, too.
During the winter, temperatures can drop below 30°F, while the summer can bring unbearable levels of heat, with temperatures that can easily surpass 100°F.
Austin is also a bit more humid than San Diego, which can make the heat even worse.
But, it can snow in Austin, which is a nice change of pace for people who like to experience all four seasons during the year.
A similarity to note in this climate comparison between Austin vs San Diego is that both locations do not receive a lot of rainfall, although San Diego only experiences about 40 days of rain per year, while Austin gets about 80 days of rain on average.
That still means that they are sunny or clear for at least 80% of the year.
4. San Diego vs Austin – Cost of Living
If you’re thinking of moving to San Diego or Austin, be aware that both cities are more expensive when compared to the national average.
If we compare San Diego vs Austin directly, we see that San Diego is far more expensive than Texas’ capital city, coming in at around 25% more expensive.
In fact, San Diego is one of the top 10 most expensive cities in America.
A major difference in the cost of living between Austin vs San Diego is their housing prices. In San Diego, the cost for real estate is almost double that in Austin, and the rent is $1,000 higher on average.
The average cost of a home in San Diego is around $1 million, while it is $600,000 to $700,000 in Austin.
Moreover, regular everyday costs like public transportation, utilities, and groceries are all more expensive in San Diego than in Austin.
The only service that seems to cost the same in Austin or San Diego is the price of healthcare.
Thus, if you’re trying to decide whether to move to San Diego or Austin, you should keep in mind the stark differences found in this category.
5. San Diego vs Austin – Job Market
If you’re thinking of moving to Austin or San Diego for their job market, then it is good to know that both cities offer a lot of opportunities in basically every industry. In fact, both cities have experienced strong economic growth in the last few years.
However, Austin’s job market has been much hotter, which is a reflection of its booming tech and start-up scene. It is also predicted to expand at a greater rate.
Furthermore, Austin’s unemployment rate is below the national average, while it is slightly higher in San Diego.
Still, both cities offer higher annual salaries compared to the national average.
If we combine this fact with the lower cost of living in Austin, it goes without saying that, economically speaking, Austin seems to offer a better value.
6. San Diego vs Austin – Things to Do for Travelers
If you’re planning a trip somewhere in the US soon and you still don’t know whether to go to Austin or San Diego, then this section is for you.
In San Diego, fellow travelers like you are often attracted by the 70 miles of sandy beaches that are home to a great collection of seaside amenities, such as amazing restaurants, beautiful resorts, and fun bars.
Additionally, San Diego features several amazing parks and natural reserves that are scattered all around the city, such as the stunning Balboa Park.
There is the world-famous San Diego Zoo as well as attractions like the USS Midway Museum and Petco Park that are among the most famous tourist attractions in the city.
Don’t forget about San Diego’s buzzing downtown district and its famed Gaslamp Quarter, where you can spend countless nights at gourmet restaurants, trendy bars, and relaxing lounges.
In Austin, you must check out its live music scene and go to a rock, country, or blues concert as it is one of the best places in the world for live performances.
While Austin doesn’t have access to any sandy beaches, it does offer tons of natural beauty for its visitors, who can decide between dozens of parks and lakes such as Zilker Park or attractions like Lady Bird Lake.
Among the cultural attractions, the Texas Capitol and the Blanton Museum of Art are some of the most renowned.
7. San Diego vs Austin – Things to Do for Residents
When comparing Austin vs San Diego from the perspective of the lifestyle that they offer their residents, we find some important similarities.
In both cities, there are numerous outdoor activities that can be enjoyed almost all year round.
In San Diego, residents can hit the beach at any time or go for a hike through the oceanside Torrey Pines State Reserve.
Meanwhile, residents in Austin can go hiking, camping, or biking in the majestic rolling landscape of the Texas Hill Country that surrounds Austin.
Moreover, residents of both cities can enjoy a vibrant nightlife and a lively artistic scene. In San Diego, there are neighborhoods filled with impressive graffiti art that will make you feel like you’re in a museum, while in Austin, the live music that fills the streets together with the unique smell of the finest Tex-Mex cuisine will delight your ears and your taste buds.
Finally, both San Diego and Austin host numerous popular events that attract both residents and tourists alike.
In San Diego, there is the fun Comic-Con every year, while Austin hosts events like the US Grand Prix for Formula 1 as well as the legendary SXSW Conference and Festival every year in March.
San Diego vs Austin – Summary
This comparison between Austin vs San Diego showed us how these two beautiful cities have their own pros and cons, but that they are both attractive places to consider.
Whether you’re a traveler planning your next trip or a professional planning your next move, choosing between San Diego or Austin is not an easy task, so we hope that this guide can help you make your decision.
