Living in San Diego: Military Movers, California

Includes: Downtown, Point Loma, Hillcrest, North Park, South Park, University Heights, Coronado.
The Vibe: Lively, walkable, close to the water, and packed with restaurants, shops, and city energy.
Good For: Singles, couples, and dual-military households who want short commutes and an urban lifestyle.
Commute Reality: Close to NB San Diego, MCRD, and Point Loma.

What People Like: Quick access to Balboa Park, the Zoo, and the waterfront. Active nightlife and a strong sense of community.
What to Know: High rents, limited parking, and plenty of background noise from the harbor and airport.

Popular Neighborhoods
-Point Loma: Near NB San Diego and the submarine base, with classic coastal homes and a family feel.
-Coronado: Safe, scenic, and walkable, ideal but highly competitive.
-North Park / South Park: Artsy, historic neighborhoods with cafes and craftsman homes.
-Hillcrest: Vibrant, LGBTQ+-friendly, and centrally located.

Includes: La Mesa, El Cajon, Santee, Poway, Lakeside, Jamul.
The Vibe: Suburban to semi-rural, with more space and lower housing costs.
Good For: Families who value quiet neighborhoods, bigger yards, and top inland schools.
Commute Reality: 30–45 minutes to most bases, depending on time of day.

What People Like: Tight-knit communities, parks, and mountain views.
What to Know: Hotter summers and longer drives to the beach — but solid value for your BAH.

Popular Neighborhoods
-Poway: Highly rated schools, safe streets, family-friendly.
-La Mesa: Charming older homes, vibrant village center, access to trolley lines.
-Santee: Modern developments, good schools, affordable prices.

Includes: Oceanside, Carlsbad, Vista, San Marcos, Encinitas, Escondido.
The Vibe: Beach towns and family-oriented suburbs with an easygoing pace.
Good For: Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton or Navy families seeking great schools and suburban calm.
Commute Reality: 40–90 minutes to downtown bases, but minutes to Pendleton gates.

What People Like: Beautiful coastline, strong school districts, and close-knit communities.
What to Know: Coastal rents are steep; inland areas offer better value.

Popular Neighborhoods
-Oceanside: Right outside Camp Pendleton; mix of new developments and affordable apartments.
-Carlsbad: High-end family living, top schools, and small-town beach charm.
-Vista / San Marcos: Affordable inland options with newer homes.
Encinitas: Surf culture, excellent schools, and relaxed coastal life.

Includes: Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, National City, Bonita.
The Vibe: Diverse, military-heavy, and family-focused.
Good For: Sailors at NB San Diego, Coronado, or Point Loma who want shorter commutes and community support.
Commute Reality: 15–35 minutes to most Navy bases.

What People Like: Affordable housing, bilingual culture, beach access, and close proximity to Mexico.
What to Know: Coastal fog and older infrastructure in some pockets; focus on Chula Vista or Bonita for best school options.

Popular Neighborhoods
-Chula Vista: Modern suburban layout, newer housing, excellent schools.
-Imperial Beach: Laid-back surf town with authentic local character.
-Bonita: Quiet, green, and central for commuting.

San Diego (and Southern California in general) has an extremely high cost of living. Housing is expensive, and San Diego BAH rates are designed to match the average rental costs in the area. San Diego BAH varies depending on rank and whether or not you have dependents. To determine your BAH at Naval Base San Diego, use the BAH calculator.

Typical Housing Costs

Region---------------Median Rent-------Home Price-----Commute to Base
Central San Diego-----$3,000–$3,500----- $900K+---------10–20 min
North County---------$2,700–$3,200------$950K+---------40–90 min
East County----------$2,300–$2,700------ $750K----------30–45 min
South Bay------------$2,400–$2,800------$800K----------15–35 min

Typical 2025 Monthly BAH (Estimates)

Rank-----Without Dependents----- With Dependents
E-4-------$3,078--------------------$3,174
E-6-------$3,288--------------------$3,495
O-1-------$3,219---------------------$3,537
O-3-------$3,525--------------------$3,891
O-4-------$3,816--------------------$4,221

Schools & Education

There are no DoDEA schools in San Diego, but several local districts work closely with military families and maintain excellent ratings.

District--------------------------Area-------------------Highlights
Coronado Unified------------------Coronado Island---------Small, high-performing, walkable schools
Poway Unified---------------------North County------------Top-ranked with strong STEM
Chula Vista/Sweetwater Union-----South Bay---------------Diverse, bilingual, innovation-focused
Oceanside Unified-----------------Near Camp Pendleton----Dedicated military liaisons
San Diego Unified-----------------Central SD---------------Magnet schools & program variety

High-schoolers can dual-enroll at local community colleges; universities like UC San Diego, SDSU, and USD offer veteran and spouse programs.

Childcare & Preschool Options

On-base Child Development Centers (CDCs) and Family Child Care homes offer trusted care but often have waitlists. Many families choose off-base options through YMCA programs, faith-based centers, or private preschools.

Typical tuition: $1,200–$1,800/month
Use Child Care Aware of America subsidies to reduce costs.

San Diego’s economy is robust — especially in healthcare, biotech, education, defense contracting, and hospitality.
Frequent employers for spouses include Naval Medical Center SD, VA La Jolla, General Atomics, BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, and UC San Diego.

Local colleges (National University, Miramar, Mesa, Palomar) offer flexible schedules for continuing education.

Career resources:
-MyCAA Scholarship Program
-Hiring Our Heroes – San Diego
-USO Pathfinder Transition Program

Military & VA Facilities

• Naval Medical Center San Diego (Balboa) – full-service hospital
• VA San Diego (La Jolla) – major VA facility
• Branch clinics at NB Coronado, MCAS Miramar, Camp Pendleton

Civilian Providers
Health Systems like Scripps, Sharp, and UC San Diego Health widely accept Tricare. Telehealth and urgent-care coverage are strong across the region.

San Diego has deep military roots and plenty of support for families adjusting to PCS life.

Local organizations:

• USO San Diego – family programs and lounges
• Armed Services YMCA – childcare, after-school, and food assistance
• Blue Star Families (SoCal Chapter) – community events and advocacy
• STEP (Support The Enlisted Project) – financial aid and counseling
• San Diego Food Bank Military Program – monthly grocery distributions.

Final Thoughts

San Diego has been welcoming service members and their families for generations. It’s a place that understands deployments perhaps better than any city and region in the country.

Whether you’re here for one tour or planning to retire, which so many service members do, San Diego is seriously rewarding, with unbeatable weather and lifestyle, and amazingly supporting communities.