I was recently quoted in an article by FinanceBuzz discussing which U.S. cities may become unaffordable for retirees by 2030. Below is the perspective I shared as a San Diego real estate expert. You can learn more about my market insights and media mentions here.

"With San Diego's beautiful weather and coastline, we've always been a dream retirement destination for many, especially for those who've endured a lifetime of harsh weather in the midwest or on the east coast. We are known for being an incredibly safe city with low levels of violent crime, and we have a reputation for being an area that focuses on health and wellness. However, we have also historically been one of the most expensive cities in the US for all of those same reasons. Once you add in the intense appreciation of real estate that occurred during the pandemic years, and the inflationary forces of the last couple of years, it's all added up to a cost of living increase in San Diego of roughly 25% since 2020. For those on a fixed income like retirees, that type of cost escalation can be very scary.

Two major concerns for retirees are taxes and the cost of healthcare, both of which are extraordinarily high in San Diego. Our residents pay more for healthcare services than the average American and even the average Californian, and they pay more for health insurance as well. While our property taxes in San Diego County aren't exorbitant, the property values themselves are high, so that increases the annual tax amount, and, of course, California state income tax is the highest marginal state tax rate in the country. While California doesn't tax social security income, it does tax most retirement income sources, including pensions and IRAs, so if you are a high-income earner, retiring anywhere in California will cost you.

Given all of these factors, the decision to retire in San Diego should not be taken lightly, in my opinion. A recent study by The United Ways of California showed that 31% of San Diegans are cost-burdened and not making enough to cover their basic expenses, and 42% are spending more than 30% of their income on housing. When you retire to San Diego, will you love the weather, your surroundings, and the lifestyle? Almost definitely yes. Will most people be able to afford it? I'm afraid that answer, unfortunately, is going to be a resounding no. With the cost of living already being so high in 2026, I can only imagine what it's going to be by 2030."

https://financebuzz.com/news/realtors-predict-unaffordable-retirement-cities