Detroit - MI vs San Diego - CA: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

San Diego - CA is roughly 251% more expensive than Detroit - MI in typical home value. Homes sit on market longer in San Diego - CA (25 days vs 15), suggesting more buyer leverage there.

Detroit vs San Diego: what the numbers say

At today's 7.24% average 30-year rate with 20% down, the typical home would cost about $1,441 a month in principal and interest in Detroit and $5,054 in San Diego, a gap of $3,613 a month.

Typical rent runs $1,514 in Detroit and $2,967 in San Diego, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.0 times rent in Detroit and 1.7 times rent in San Diego, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 14.5 years of rent in Detroit and 26.0 in San Diego; the lower ratio in Detroit means buying there is cheaper relative to renting.

Over the last 23 months typical values moved +5.2% in Detroit and -1.8% in San Diego; over just the last three months the change was +0.3% in Detroit and +0.3% in San Diego.

Homes sell for 99.5% of list price in Detroit and 99.3% in San Diego, after 15 and 25 days on the market, with price cuts on 29% and 29% of listings. The signs are mixed: Detroit has more price cuts, while San Diego has longer time on the market and sales further below list.

The number of homes for sale is up 10% on a year ago in Detroit and down 6% on a year ago in San Diego.

Payments assume a 30-year fixed loan at the Freddie Mac weekly average rate (2026-10-29), 20% down, principal and interest only. Home values, rents and market figures are Zillow Research metro data.