Side by side
What changes when you move from Seattle
| Seattle | San Diego | |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | Around 37 inches of rain a year and long gray winters | Around 10 inches of rain a year. Mild winters, and summers that stay cool by the coast |
| Getting back | Home | About three hours nonstop from San Diego International, with several flights a day |
| State income tax | None on wages | California taxes income at rates that rise with income. Plan this with your CPA before you move |
| Estate tax | Washington has a state estate tax | California has no state estate or inheritance tax |
| Property tax | Reassessed regularly | Set by your purchase price under Proposition 13, with assessed value rising no more than 2 percent a year |
| Housing | Craftsman homes, lake and Sound views, Eastside planned communities | Craftsman and Spanish homes, ocean and canyon views, coastal villages and planned communities |
General comparisons at the time of writing. Tax rules change, so confirm with your CPA.
Neighborhood matchmaker
San Diego neighborhoods that feel like home
No two places are the same, but these are the areas our clients from the Seattle area ask about most. The quiz will refine the list to fit you.
If you love Queen Anne or Capitol Hill
Look at Mission Hills, South Park and North Park
Older homes with character, walkable blocks and coffee on the corner.
If you love Ballard or Fremont
Look at Ocean Beach and North Park
Independent shops, breweries and a strong sense of neighborhood.
If you love Bellevue, Kirkland or Redmond
Look at Carmel Valley, 4S Ranch and Scripps Ranch
Newer homes, strong public schools and a short drive to the tech and biotech hubs.
If you love Mercer Island or Medina
Look at La Jolla, Del Mar and Rancho Santa Fe
Water views, privacy and the top of the market.
If you love Bainbridge Island or Edmonds
Look at Coronado and Encinitas
A small town by the water where people know each other.
If you love Sammamish or Issaquah
Look at Poway and San Marcos
Room to spread out, with trailheads minutes from the driveway.
The money side
Equity, taxes and what your budget buys
Many Seattle sellers arrive with substantial equity, and that is your leverage here. A large down payment softens the effect of interest rates and makes your offer one of the strongest a seller will see. The honest trade-off is income tax. Washington does not tax wages and California does, so have your CPA run the numbers before you list. Two things work in your favor in California: there is no state estate tax, and Proposition 13 keeps your property tax bill predictable for as long as you own the home.
For a closer look at jumbo loans, property taxes, 1031 exchanges and how to hold title, see buying at the top of the San Diego market.
How to make the move without the stress
Narrow it to three areas
Take the quiz, read the area guide, and tell us what your days look like. We will suggest places you may not have considered.
Set the order of operations
Sell first, buy first, or bridge between the two. We map it with a lender before anything is listed.
Come for one focused weekend
We plan the route, the showings and the coffee stops. You see each area at the times of day that matter.
Handle the rest from home
Video tours, electronic signatures and a mobile notary mean you only travel when you want to.
Seattle to San Diego
Questions we hear from Seattle buyers
Is San Diego more expensive than Seattle?
Home prices in the two metros are in the same range, and both vary widely by neighborhood. San Diego's coastal areas cost more than most of Seattle, while inland areas such as Poway and San Marcos compare with Seattle's Eastside suburbs. California has a state income tax and Washington does not tax wages, so compare the whole picture with your CPA.
How long is the flight from Seattle to San Diego?
Nonstop flights take about three hours, with multiple flights every day. That makes a Friday-to-Sunday scouting trip realistic.
Which San Diego neighborhoods feel most like Seattle?
North Park, South Park and Mission Hills have the older homes and walkable streets of Queen Anne and Capitol Hill. Carmel Valley and 4S Ranch resemble Bellevue and Redmond. La Jolla and Del Mar are the closest match to Mercer Island and Medina.
Does it ever rain in San Diego?
A little. San Diego gets around 10 inches of rain a year, mostly between December and March. The coast also has cool, cloudy mornings in May and June that locals call May Gray and June Gloom.
Talk to a local
Planning a move from Seattle?
Andrew Luria and Jaime Chambers have reported on San Diego's neighborhoods for decades and now help families move here. Tell us about your plans and we will reply with honest thoughts. No sales pitch.
Also moving from: San Francisco · Los Angeles · Phoenix