To take home four times the typical rent here, a full-time job needs to pay at least $80.73 an hour before taxes, about $167,918 a year.
Rent is the middle of 95 ZIP-level HUD studio rents in the county. HUD's county-wide figure is $2,192 (San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA MSA).
Rents vary within the county. This is what the standard would be at each ZIP code's own studio rent; the county figure above is what the calculator uses.
| ZIP | Place | Studio rent | Pay needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 91901 | Alpine | $2,030/mo | $73.80/hr |
| 91902 | Bonita | $2,230/mo | $82.46/hr |
| 91903 | Alpine | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 91905 | Boulevard | $2,050/mo | $74.67/hr |
| 91906 | Campo | $1,610/mo | $55.88/hr |
| 91908 | Bonita | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 91910 | Chula Vista | $2,010/mo | $72.94/hr |
| 91911 | Chula Vista | $2,070/mo | $75.53/hr |
| 91912 | Chula Vista | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 91913 | Chula Vista | $2,900/mo | $110.06/hr |
| 91914 | Chula Vista | $3,200/mo | $122.69/hr |
| 91915 | Chula Vista | $2,960/mo | $112.44/hr |
| 91916 | Descanso | $2,100/mo | $76.83/hr |
| 91917 | Dulzura | $2,120/mo | $77.70/hr |
| 91921 | Chula Vista | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 91931 | Guatay | $2,370/mo | $88.52/hr |
| 91932 | Imperial Beach | $2,010/mo | $72.94/hr |
| 91933 | Imperial Beach | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 91934 | Jacumba | $2,170/mo | $79.86/hr |
| 91935 | Jamul | $2,120/mo | $77.70/hr |
| 91941 | La Mesa | $2,040/mo | $74.24/hr |
| 91942 | La Mesa | $2,200/mo | $81.16/hr |
| 91943 | La Mesa | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 91944 | La Mesa | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 91945 | Lemon Grove | $1,820/mo | $64.71/hr |
| 91946 | Lemon Grove | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 91948 | Mount Laguna | $2,180/mo | $80.30/hr |
| 91950 | National City | $1,720/mo | $60.49/hr |
| 91951 | National City | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 91962 | Pine Valley | $2,550/mo | $96.28/hr |
| 91963 | Potrero | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 91976 | Spring Valley | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 91977 | Spring Valley | $1,880/mo | $67.31/hr |
| 91978 | Spring Valley | $2,280/mo | $84.63/hr |
| 91979 | Spring Valley | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 91980 | Tecate | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92003 | Bonsall | $2,140/mo | $78.57/hr |
| 92004 | Borrego Springs | $1,310/mo | $43.33/hr |
| 92007 | Cardiff By The Sea | $2,920/mo | $110.85/hr |
| 92008 | Carlsbad | $2,520/mo | $95.02/hr |
| 92009 | Carlsbad | $2,850/mo | $108.08/hr |
| 92010 | Carlsbad | $2,830/mo | $107.28/hr |
| 92011 | Carlsbad | $3,140/mo | $120.11/hr |
| 92013 | Carlsbad | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92014 | Del Mar | $3,240/mo | $124.42/hr |
| 92018 | Carlsbad | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92019 | El Cajon | $2,200/mo | $81.16/hr |
| 92020 | El Cajon | $1,950/mo | $70.34/hr |
| 92021 | El Cajon | $1,890/mo | $67.74/hr |
| 92022 | El Cajon | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92023 | Encinitas | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92024 | Encinitas | $2,860/mo | $108.47/hr |
| 92025 | Escondido | $2,010/mo | $72.94/hr |
| 92026 | Escondido | $2,170/mo | $79.86/hr |
| 92027 | Escondido | $1,940/mo | $69.91/hr |
| 92028 | Fallbrook | $1,790/mo | $63.42/hr |
| 92029 | Escondido | $2,350/mo | $87.66/hr |
| 92030 | Escondido | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92033 | Escondido | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92036 | Julian | $1,730/mo | $60.90/hr |
| 92037 | La Jolla | $2,620/mo | $99.03/hr |
| 92038 | La Jolla | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92039 | La Jolla | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92040 | Lakeside | $1,930/mo | $69.47/hr |
| 92046 | Escondido | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92049 | Oceanside | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92051 | Oceanside | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92052 | Oceanside | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92054 | Oceanside | $2,050/mo | $74.67/hr |
| 92055 | Camp Pendleton | $2,320/mo | $86.36/hr |
| 92056 | Oceanside | $2,570/mo | $97.07/hr |
| 92057 | Oceanside | $2,340/mo | $87.22/hr |
| 92058 | Oceanside | $2,210/mo | $81.60/hr |
| 92059 | Pala | $1,550/mo | $53.37/hr |
| 92060 | Palomar Mountain | $1,480/mo | $50.44/hr |
| 92061 | Pauma Valley | $1,870/mo | $66.88/hr |
| 92064 | Poway | $2,310/mo | $85.92/hr |
| 92065 | Ramona | $1,950/mo | $70.34/hr |
| 92066 | Ranchita | $1,430/mo | $48.35/hr |
| 92067 | Rancho Santa Fe | $2,810/mo | $106.49/hr |
| 92068 | San Luis Rey | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92069 | San Marcos | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92070 | Santa Ysabel | $1,730/mo | $60.90/hr |
| 92071 | Santee | $2,140/mo | $78.57/hr |
| 92072 | Santee | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92074 | Poway | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92075 | Solana Beach | $3,060/mo | $116.66/hr |
| 92078 | San Marcos | $2,480/mo | $93.28/hr |
| 92079 | San Marcos | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92081 | Vista | $2,420/mo | $90.69/hr |
| 92082 | Valley Center | $1,590/mo | $55.05/hr |
| 92083 | Vista | $2,170/mo | $79.86/hr |
| 92084 | Vista | $2,020/mo | $73.37/hr |
| 92085 | Vista | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92086 | Warner Springs | $1,430/mo | $48.35/hr |
| 92088 | Fallbrook | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92091 | Rancho Santa Fe | $2,680/mo | $101.37/hr |
| 92092 | La Jolla | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92093 | La Jolla | $2,600/mo | $98.25/hr |
| 92096 | San Marcos | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92101 | San Diego | $3,180/mo | $121.83/hr |
| 92102 | San Diego | $2,100/mo | $76.83/hr |
| 92103 | San Diego | $2,490/mo | $93.72/hr |
| 92104 | San Diego | $2,260/mo | $83.76/hr |
| 92105 | San Diego | $1,780/mo | $63.00/hr |
| 92106 | San Diego | $2,270/mo | $84.19/hr |
| 92107 | San Diego | $2,460/mo | $92.42/hr |
| 92108 | San Diego | $3,200/mo | $122.69/hr |
| 92109 | San Diego | $2,700/mo | $102.16/hr |
| 92110 | San Diego | $2,520/mo | $95.02/hr |
| 92111 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92112 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92113 | San Diego | $1,740/mo | $61.32/hr |
| 92114 | San Diego | $1,880/mo | $67.31/hr |
| 92115 | San Diego | $2,060/mo | $75.10/hr |
| 92116 | San Diego | $2,220/mo | $82.03/hr |
| 92117 | San Diego | $2,180/mo | $80.30/hr |
| 92118 | Coronado | $3,280/mo | $126.14/hr |
| 92119 | San Diego | $2,280/mo | $84.63/hr |
| 92120 | San Diego | $2,410/mo | $90.25/hr |
| 92121 | San Diego | $2,550/mo | $96.28/hr |
| 92122 | San Diego | $2,870/mo | $108.87/hr |
| 92123 | San Diego | $2,790/mo | $105.70/hr |
| 92124 | San Diego | $3,110/mo | $118.82/hr |
| 92126 | San Diego | $2,700/mo | $102.16/hr |
| 92127 | San Diego | $2,650/mo | $100.20/hr |
| 92128 | San Diego | $2,800/mo | $106.09/hr |
| 92129 | San Diego | $2,400/mo | $89.82/hr |
| 92130 | San Diego | $3,280/mo | $126.14/hr |
| 92131 | San Diego | $3,070/mo | $117.09/hr |
| 92132 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92134 | San Diego | $3,110/mo | $118.82/hr |
| 92135 | San Diego | $3,280/mo | $126.14/hr |
| 92136 | San Diego | $1,730/mo | $60.90/hr |
| 92137 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92138 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92139 | San Diego | $2,120/mo | $77.70/hr |
| 92140 | San Diego | $2,970/mo | $112.84/hr |
| 92142 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92143 | San Ysidro | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92145 | San Diego | $2,650/mo | $100.20/hr |
| 92147 | San Diego | $2,640/mo | $99.81/hr |
| 92149 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92150 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92152 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92153 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92154 | San Diego | $2,150/mo | $79.00/hr |
| 92155 | San Diego | $3,280/mo | $126.14/hr |
| 92159 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92160 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92161 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92163 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92165 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92166 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92167 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92168 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92169 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92170 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92171 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92172 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92173 | San Ysidro | $1,790/mo | $63.42/hr |
| 92174 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92175 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92176 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92177 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92178 | Coronado | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92179 | San Diego | $2,150/mo | $79.00/hr |
| 92182 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92191 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92192 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92193 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92195 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92196 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92198 | San Diego | $2,190/mo | $80.73/hr |
| 92672 | San Clemente (partly) | $2,640/mo | $99.81/hr |
Under the Four Times Rent standard, a full-time job in San Diego County, California needs to pay at least $80.73 an hour before taxes, about $167,918 a year. That leaves $8,760 a month after taxes, four times the typical $2,190 rent on a studio apartment.
The minimum wage here is $16.90 an hour (California minimum wage). The standard is 4.8 times that. A full-time minimum-wage job takes home about $2,467 a month, 28% of the standard.
Take the typical monthly cost of a studio apartment, multiply by four, and divide by 160 hours of work a month. That's the take-home pay needed per hour. The pay before taxes is what it takes to keep that much after federal, state and local income taxes and Social Security and Medicare.
The idea behind the standard is laid out in Chapter 1: The Living Wage Revolution.