It must be all the avocado groves that boost the agriculture business. After all, most San Diegans consider guacamole a separate food group. There's a price to be paid for living in a paradise where the weather's great, jobs are plentiful and attitudes are casual. The cost of living in San Diego is undeniably higher than in many other cities, and the main reason is real estate. Real estate has traditionally been the barometer of the local economy, rising and falling with the fortune of the rest of the city.
Gasoline prices seem to be higher than in other places, too.
And since San Diegans tenaciously cling to their autos as the preferred mode of transportation, they pay for it. But the good news is that bargains are always to be found. Inexpensive dining, off-price shopping and discount entertainment opportunities are common. With judicious planning, a visit or even a permanent move to San Diego doesn't have to break the bank. But ask anyone what comes to mind when they think of San Diego, and more likely than not they'll say the weather.