Updated May 2026 · Redfin
San Diego vs San Jose: real estate market, May 2026
A side-by-side housing-market snapshot for San Diego, CA and San Jose, CA for May 2026: San Diego at a $970K median versus $1.4M in San Jose, plus days on market and the buyer-vs-seller balance, straight from the Redfin Data Center.
| Metric | San Diego, CA | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $970K ▼ -2.4% | $1.4M ▼ -6.5% |
| Days on market | 21 • 0.0% | 20 ▲ +42.9% |
| Homes for sale | 2,356 ▼ -10.2% | 1,084 ▲ +5.3% |
| Sale-to-list | 99.2% ▼ -0.1% | 102.7% ▼ -0.4% |
| Months of supply | 2.8 ▼ -9.7% | 2.0 ▼ -4.8% |
| Homes sold | 847 ▼ -1.2% | 536 ▲ +10.3% |
Figures from Redfin Data Center. Verify against your MLS before posting.
The verdict
As of May 2026, San Diego is the more affordable of the two at a $970,000 median sale price, about 31% below San Jose ($1,402,500). San Jose is the faster-moving market, with homes going under contract in about 20 days versus 21 in San Diego.
Which market fits your client?
For a buyer client, San Diego offers a little more breathing room, with 2.8 months of supply against 2.0 in San Jose, which usually means less bidding pressure. For a seller client, San Jose is the tighter market, with a 102.7% sale-to-list ratio. On price momentum, San Diego is appreciating faster (-2.4% vs -6.5% year over year).
How we compare these markets
We built LOKAL to pull San Diego's and San Jose's numbers straight from the Redfin Data Center, so an agent and a client compare like for like. For May 2026 we recorded a $970K median in San Diego and a $1.4M median in San Jose, against roughly $994K a year earlier in 2025. Redfin has published this market data monthly since 2020, which is what lets us show year-over-year change here in 2026. For complementary demographics on each metro — population, median household income — see the U.S. Census Bureau. LOKAL is independent and not affiliated with Redfin; always verify against your MLS before you publish.
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Full San Diego and San Jose market updates
Frequently asked
- Is San Diego or San Jose more affordable?
- As of May 2026, San Diego is the more affordable market at a $970,000 median sale price, about 31% below San Jose ($1,402,500), per the Redfin Data Center.
- Which market moves faster, San Diego or San Jose?
- San Jose moves faster: a typical listing goes under contract in about 20 days, versus 21 days in San Diego (May 2026).
- Is San Diego or San Jose better for buyers right now?
- San Diego gives buyers a little more room, with 2.8 months of supply versus 2.0 in San Jose. More months of supply usually means less competition and more negotiating leverage for buyers.
- Where do these San Diego and San Jose numbers come from?
- Both metros draw on the Redfin Data Center, refreshed monthly. LOKAL turns the figures into a ready-to-post carousel, story and square for either city. LOKAL is not affiliated with Redfin; always verify against your local MLS before quoting figures to clients.
More San Diego comparisons
Data: Redfin · Redfin Data Center. Figures are metro-level snapshots, not valuations for a specific home.