So maybe you have visited Downtown San Diego and have seen the beautiful high-rise buildings and wondered what it would be like to live in one? And you might also be wondering how the downtown San Diego real estate market is doing now that we are in January, 2026 - the start of a brand new year. 

In my experience, living in Downtown San Diego is a bit different than the downtowns of other major metropolitan areas. Because most San Diego neighborhoods have their own mini-downtown areas or districts with markets, shops, and restaurants, you don't really "need" to go to downtown for anything specific unless you are headed to the Rady Shell for a concert, Petco Park for a game or event, the Gaslamp District for a big night out, etc. Because of that, downtown is not the overly congested area that you might imagine it to be. 

Because of the easy freeway access to I-5, the 163, and I-94, getting in and out of downtown is pretty darn easy, even during rush hour. And because of this freeway access, if you work downtown, it doesn't mean that you also need to live downtown. As such, you might not be surprised to hear that many of the condo units owned in Downtown San Diego are actually second homes (or third or fourth) for residents who live around the world. Each of the buildings downtown has its own vibe, its own amenities, and each little pocket of downtown (and there are several) has its own vibe as well. 

I honestly think that for the money, given its close proximity to the water and the spectacular views available, living in Downtown SD is a fantastic choice. Your day could often start with a walk or run over by the San Diego Bay where you can see views of Point Loma, the Coronado Bridge, and the USS Midway. You can enjoy watching the planes fly through the city as they come in for a landing (it's pretty crazy how close they are). You can then walk to a nearby coffee shop like Lofty Coffee if you are near Little Italy or Lani Coffee if you are in the Marina District, both of which have good drinks. If you are like the rest of us, work will be up next, followed by whatever it is you like to do in the evenings. If you need groceries or want to grab a bite, the advantage to living downtown is that so much of it is walkable. Not needing to get into your car for every single thing is pretty great. And then if you are lucky enough to have a view from your downtown condo, taking in the spectacular sunsets and city lights is often activity enough (for me) most evenings. I really am constantly surprised by how quiet the highrises are....that concrete and steel construction really does the trick! To me, living downtown feels like an often-overlooked gem in San Diego, so if you are interested in highrise living, definitely give it a look. 

How much will a condo in Downtown San Diego cost you? Let's see what the real estate market is looking like in January 2026: 

As of January 18, 2026:

• There are 194 condos and townhomes for sale in Downtown San Diego, showing as active or coming soon status in the San Diego MLS
• There are 20 pending condo and townhome sales in Downtown San Diego
• The average list price of the active and coming soon listings is $926,132
• The average list price per square foot of the active and coming soon listings is $755/sq. ft.
• The average list price per square foot of the pending listings is $767/sq. ft. 
• The average days on the market of the active/coming soon listings is 70 days
• The average days on the market of the pending listings is 81 days
• The average list price of the pending listings is $1,366,805 (but don't let that get you down - the least expensive 12 listings of those 20 listings are all under $650,000)
• The total number of condo and townhome listings that sold in 2025 in downtown San Diego (per the SDMLS) was 511 units. Of course, there were certainly some that sold off-market. 

Looking at downtown condos is super interesting and fun, and I think living in downtown San Diego is even moreso! If you think this could be where you want to make your next home, please feel free to reach out. - Kimberly Schmidt, REALTOR in San Diego since 2006.