San Diego vs Seattle
Two markets on the list for people leaving LA. Here's how they stack up on price, pace and taxes, measured against what a typical LA home sells for.
| San Diego, CA | Seattle, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $970K | $901K |
| Median single-family | $1.27M | $1.17M |
| Median condo | $618K | $503K |
| Median $/sq ft | $693 | $571 |
| Median days on market | 21 | 11 |
| Avg sale-to-list | 99.2% | 100.8% |
| Sq ft for $1M (at median $/sq ft) | 1,440 | 1,750 |
| Californians who moved to the state (2024) | n/a | 43,938 |
Redfin Data Center, May 2026, all residential unless noted. Typical LA County zip for reference: $904K median, $588/sq ft, 44 median days on market. Mover counts: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024, estimates with margins of error.
The short version
Seattle is the less expensive of the two at the median, about $901K versus $970K in San Diego, roughly 7% less (Redfin, May 2026). $1 million covers roughly 1,750 square feet in Seattle at the median price per square foot, versus about 1,440 in San Diego. Seattle homes have been moving faster, 11 median days on market versus 21 in San Diego. San Diego is in California, so its income tax matches LA's. Washington has no personal income tax on wages. About 44,000 people moved from California to Washington in 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024).
Taxes
San Diego: Same as LA (California, progressive, top rate 13.3%). Seattle: None on wages (Washington has no personal income tax on wages). Property tax, insurance and HOA costs vary by address in both places and can matter as much as income tax, so price them for any specific home.
Go deeper
Read the full guides: moving from LA to San Diego and moving from LA to Seattle.
Common questions
Is San Diego or Seattle cheaper?
Seattle had the lower median sale price, about $901K versus $970K in San Diego (Redfin, May 2026), roughly 7% less at the median.
Which has lower state income tax, San Diego or Seattle?
Seattle has the lower state income tax. Washington has no personal income tax on wages. By comparison, California has a progressive income tax with a top marginal rate of 13.3% (tax year 2026). Rates change, so confirm with each state and a CPA.
What does $1 million buy in San Diego vs Seattle?
At the median price per square foot, $1 million works out to roughly 1,440 square feet in San Diego and 1,750 in Seattle, versus about 1,700 at the LA median. A rough illustration, not a listing.
