Data & Research
San Diego Statistics & Facts 2026
Last updated: May 18, 2026 · Sources: SANDAG, NOAA, sandiego.org, US Census, CA State data
85+ citable statistics for San Diego covering tourism volume, weather and climate, population, attractions, and visitor cost benchmarks. Data is compiled from public sources and updated annually. Journalists and researchers are welcome to cite this page — see the citation guide below.
35M+
Annual Visitors
340+
Sunny Days / Year
70 mi
Coastline
150+
Craft Breweries
Key Statistics at a Glance
All figures are 2025–2026 estimates unless noted. Source abbreviations listed below each stat.
35 million+
Annual visitors to San Diego
Source: sandiego.org
$13.2 billion
Annual tourism economic impact
Source: sandiego.org
340+
Sunny days per year (avg)
Source: NOAA
70 miles
San Diego coastline
Source: CA Coastal Commission
10.3 inches
Average annual rainfall
Source: NOAA
70°F / 21°C
Average annual temperature
Source: NOAA
1.4 million
City of San Diego population (2025 est.)
Source: US Census
3.3 million
San Diego County population (2025 est.)
Source: US Census
2nd largest
City in California by population
Source: US Census
8th largest
City in the United States by population
Source: US Census
150+
Craft breweries in San Diego County
Source: CA Dept of Alcoholic Beverage Control
17
Museums in Balboa Park
Source: balboapark.org
1,200 acres
Balboa Park total area
Source: City of San Diego Parks & Rec
100 acres
San Diego Zoo footprint
Source: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
650+
Animal species at San Diego Zoo
Source: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
3,500+
Animals at San Diego Zoo
Source: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
189 acres
SeaWorld San Diego total area
Source: SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment
1,800 acres
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Source: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
30 minutes
Drive to Tijuana (world's busiest land border)
Source: CBP data
#1
U.S. city for craft beer concentration per capita
Source: Brewers Association
Monthly Weather & Ocean Temperature
San Diego has a Mediterranean climate — dry summers, mild winters, and year-round sun. Average annual temperature is 70°F (21°C). Annual rainfall averages 10.3 inches, nearly all falling October–April. Summer ocean temperatures peak at 71°F (22°C) in August — warm enough for sustained swimming without a wetsuit.
| Month | Avg Air Temp | Ocean Temp | Avg Rainfall | Planning Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 57°F / 14°C | 59°F / 15°C | 0.8″ | Low season, whale watching peak |
| February | 59°F / 15°C | 58°F / 14°C | 1.4″ | Fewer crowds, lower hotel rates |
| March | 61°F / 16°C | 59°F / 15°C | 1.3″ | Spring events, shoulder season |
| April | 63°F / 17°C | 61°F / 16°C | 0.6″ | Best shoulder-season value |
| May | 66°F / 19°C | 63°F / 17°C | 0.2″ | Marine layer mornings, mild temps |
| June | 69°F / 21°C | 66°F / 19°C | 0.1″ | June Gloom AM, strong beach weekends |
| July | 73°F / 23°C | 69°F / 21°C | 0.0″ | Peak beach season, highest hotel rates |
| August | 75°F / 24°C | 71°F / 22°C | 0.1″ | Warmest ocean, peak demand |
| September | 74°F / 23°C | 70°F / 21°C | 0.2″ | Best combo: weather + smaller crowds |
| October | 70°F / 21°C | 67°F / 19°C | 0.4″ | Excellent shoulder season |
| November | 63°F / 17°C | 64°F / 18°C | 1.1″ | Comfortable city travel, events |
| December | 58°F / 14°C | 61°F / 16°C | 1.3″ | Holiday events, whale season starts |
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, 30-year climate normals.
Tourism & Visitor Statistics
35 million+
Annual leisure and business visitors
Source: sandiego.org 2024
$13.2 billion
Annual tourism economic impact
Source: sandiego.org 2024
72,000+
Hotel rooms in San Diego County
Source: SDTA 2025
91%
Average summer hotel occupancy rate
Source: STR/CoStar, summer 2024
75%
Visitors who return within 5 years
Source: sandiego.org visitor survey
3.8 days
Average leisure visitor length of stay
Source: sandiego.org
#3
Most visited city in California (after LA, SF)
Source: CA Tourism, 2024
135,000+
San Diego Comic-Con annual attendees
Source: Comic-Con International
Population & City Facts
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| City of San Diego population | 1.40 million (2025 est.) | US Census Bureau |
| San Diego County population | 3.32 million (2025 est.) | US Census Bureau |
| Rank in California by population | 2nd (after Los Angeles) | US Census Bureau |
| Rank in USA by population | 8th largest city | US Census Bureau |
| Land area of the city | 372 sq miles / 963 km² | US Census Bureau |
| Coastline within city limits | 70 miles | CA Coastal Commission |
| Elevation (downtown) | 42 ft / 13 m above sea level | USGS |
| Elevation (Cowles Mountain, highest point) | 1,592 ft / 485 m | USGS |
| Distance to Los Angeles | 120 miles / 193 km (I-5) | — |
| Distance to Tijuana, Mexico | 18 miles / 29 km | San Ysidro POE |
| San Ysidro border crossing (busiest land border) | ~300,000 crossings/day | CBP 2024 |
| Average household income | $93,500 | ACS 2023 5-year |
| Languages spoken (top 3) | English, Spanish, Tagalog | ACS 2023 |
| Neighborhoods | 100+ recognized neighborhoods | City of San Diego |
| Military installations | 7 major installations (Navy, Marines) | DoD |
| Military economic impact | $30+ billion annually | San Diego Military Advisory Council |
Attraction & Activity Statistics
1,800 acres
San Diego Zoo Safari Park (Escondido)
189 acres
16,000+ sq ft
Visitor Cost Benchmarks 2026
Costs are representative ranges based on publicly listed prices as of May 2026. Hotel rates fluctuate significantly with season and events — summer weekends (July–August) consistently command the highest rates. Shoulder seasons (April–May, September–October) offer the best value-to-weather ratio.
| Item | Cost Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel (downtown/beach, summer) | $220 – $380 / night | Peak July–Aug |
| Hotel (downtown/beach, shoulder) | $140 – $240 / night | Apr–May, Sep–Oct |
| Hotel (downtown/beach, low) | $110 – $180 / night | Nov–Feb |
| Vacation rental (beach area) | $250 – $500 / night | Summer |
| Hostel dorm bed | $35 – $65 / night | Year-round |
| San Diego Zoo adult ticket (online) | $78 | 2026 online pricing |
| San Diego Zoo child ticket (online) | $68 | Ages 3–11, 2026 |
| SeaWorld adult ticket (online) | $69.99 – $126.99 | Date-based pricing, 2026 |
| USS Midway Museum adult | $30 | 2026 |
| Balboa Park museums combo pass | $58 – $75 | Varies by museums included |
| La Jolla kayak tour | $65 – $90 / person | 2-hour guided sea cave tour |
| Whale watching cruise | $55 – $75 / person | 3-hour trip |
| Harbor cruise (1-hour) | $30 – $40 / person | Standard sightseeing |
| Craft beer pint (local brewery) | $7 – $10 | North Park / Little Italy avg |
| Casual restaurant meal per person | $18 – $32 | Excluding tip |
| Fine dining per person | $70 – $140+ | La Jolla / Gaslamp flagship spots |
| Rideshare airport → downtown | $20 – $40 | Depending on surge |
| Daily parking (downtown) | $20 – $35 / day | Weekday garage rates |
| Zoo parking (main lot) | Free | Parking Road lot, 2026 |
| Balboa Park parking meters | $2.50 – $3.00 / hr | Weekday rates, 2026 |
All prices USD. Attraction tickets reflect online advance purchase pricing — gate prices are typically 10–20% higher. Hotel rates exclude taxes (~13% in San Diego County).
Climate Extremes & Records
111°F / 44°C
All-time high temperature (Sep 26, 1963)
Source: NOAA
25°F / -4°C
All-time low temperature (Jan 7, 1913)
Source: NOAA
25.97″
Wettest year on record (1884)
Source: NOAA
3.21″
Driest year on record (1961)
Source: NOAA
0.2″
Average July rainfall (essentially none)
Source: NOAA
340+
Average annual days with measurable sunshine
Source: NOAA
Craft Beer Capital Statistics
San Diego is widely recognized as the craft beer capital of the United States. The city's brewing culture dates to the early 1990s with pioneers like Karl Strauss and Stone Brewing, and has since grown to become one of the world's most concentrated craft brewing regions per capita.
150+
Licensed craft brewery locations in San Diego County
Source: CA ABC, 2025
#1
US metro area for craft brewery density per capita
Source: Brewers Association 2024
$1.2B+
Annual craft beer economic impact in San Diego
Source: Brewers Association
1989
Year first modern craft brewery opened (Karl Strauss)
Source: Karl Strauss Brewing
North Park / Miramar
Densest brewery corridors — nicknamed 'Brewery Row'
Source: —
600+
Distinct craft beer styles poured in San Diego breweries
Source: est., SDCBA
Beaches & Coastline Statistics
70 miles
Total San Diego County coastline
Source: CA Coastal Commission
30+
Public sandy beaches accessible by car or transit
Source: City of San Diego
65–71°F
Ocean temperature range June–October (peak swimming season)
Source: NOAA buoy data
58–60°F
Ocean temperature range November–March
Source: NOAA buoy data
Mission Beach
Longest sandy beach stretch — 3 miles continuous
Source: —
La Jolla Cove
Most visited marine protected area — sea lions, snorkeling
Source: —
50,000+
Daily beach visitors on peak summer weekends
Source: City of San Diego est.
June–Oct
Leopard shark aggregation at La Jolla Shores (harmless)
Source: Scripps IOE research
How to Cite This Page
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Primary Sources & Methodology
Data on this page is compiled from the following public sources. Where exact figures are unavailable, estimates are noted. Population figures use US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates. Weather data uses NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals for San Diego Lindbergh Field station (USW00023188).
- sandiego.org (San Diego Tourism Authority)
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
- US Census Bureau American Community Survey
- SANDAG (San Diego Association of Governments)
- California Coastal Commission
- San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (sdzsafaripark.org)
- Brewers Association (brewersassociation.org)
- balboapark.org (Balboa Park Online Collaborative)
- STR / CoStar hotel occupancy data
- CA Dept of Alcoholic Beverage Control (brewery licensing)
- US Customs and Border Protection (border crossing data)
- Comic-Con International
- San Diego Military Advisory Council
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography