SAN DIEGO — As the cost of living continues to climb, a majority of San Diegans are now considering moving out of the county.
A new survey from the University of San Diego finds that more locals are increasingly concerned about housing, homelessness and employment opportunities here at home. This new survey from The Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego comes on the heels of a recent study by US News & World Report finding that San Diego is the most expensive place to live in the United States.
"I didn't realize how high that the prices were here," said Jaelin Ford, who has called San Diego her home for the past four years as she finishes her undergrad degree at UC San Diego.
While the future teacher had dreamed of putting down roots here, the high cost of living has forced her to re-think her plan.
"Now that I am graduating in June, I'm looking at other options that are cheaper for me to live on my own, eventually get my master's and settle down somewhere," she told CBS 8.
She's part of the nearly two-thirds of San Diegans who are currently considering leaving the county.
Tessa Tinkler is the director of research at The Nonprofit Institute at USD, which carries out this quarterly study. They survey 500 San Diegans who are asked to rate their level of concern across a range of quality-of-life issues locally.
"Seventy-five percent reported that it was because of the high cost of living: that it's simply too expensive to stay in San Diego," Tinkler said. "And the highest was affordable housing, homelessness, issues related to the cost of living, employment opportunities with a living wage."
Ella Bacani has lived in San Diego since 2013. She is now seriously considering a move with her family to Arizona. She said homes are cheaper there and the cost of living is lower as well.
"The reality is that you money does not really go far here in San Diego," she said.
While this study did not ask respondents where they're mulling a move, US Census Bureau data finds that from 2021 to 2022, people who left California headed most often for Texas, Arizona, and Florida. Washington State, and Nevada.
Bacani said she would be sad if she had to relocate.
"It is beautiful. I love it here," she said. "So if I could live here and retire here, I would!"
This new survey by The Nonprofit Institute at USD also finds that 83% of San Diegans benefit in some way from a non-profit organization.
For a closer look at the entire survey, click here.
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