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San Diego water bills to rise for the average household

The City Council voted 6-2 to replace tiered pricing with an $11.09 rate per hundred cubic feet.

Politics

San Diego is switching its water rates in January so everyone will pay the same rate, after a 6-2 City Council vote Tuesday.Why it matters: The average household will end up paying more.

San Diego's Halloween sunset arrives just before 6pm

Twilight typically adds 20–40 minutes of natural light, so sunset won't mean an instant lights-out.

Holidays

The Halloween sun will set just before 6pm in San Diego.Why it matters: Whether your goblins prefer daylight or darkness, local sunset times can help you find the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sweet spot" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/10/09/halloween-candy-map-order" data-vars-content-id="24195013-a94f-4095-a78a-bee4e8720955" data-vars-headline="San Diego&#x27;s Halloween sunset arrives just before 6pm" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/10/09/halloween-candy-map-order" target="_self">sweet spot</a> for trick-or-treating.

What San Diego voters need to know for Election Day

You can cast a ballot at any county vote center, and eligible voters can still register in person.

Election

Election Day is finally <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="here" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/2026-midterm-elections" data-vars-content-id="b3f77bc1-42bc-493a-bb4a-74e8fe78d998" data-vars-headline="What San Diego voters need to know for Election Day" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/2026-midterm-elections" target="_self">here</a>, and San Diego voters have until 8pm Tuesday to cast their ballots.Why it matters: There&#x27;s time to make your vote count in big races, including the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="governor&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2026/10/07/xavier-becerra-california-governor-race-2026" data-vars-content-id="b3f77bc1-42bc-493a-bb4a-74e8fe78d998" data-vars-headline="What San Diego voters need to know for Election Day" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2026/10/07/xavier-becerra-california-governor-race-2026" target="_self">governor&#x27;s</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="race" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/10/06/steve-hilton-150k-income-tax-3-dollar-gas-sunbreak-ranch" data-vars-content-id="b3f77bc1-42bc-493a-bb4a-74e8fe78d998" data-vars-headline="What San Diego voters need to know for Election Day" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/10/06/steve-hilton-150k-income-tax-3-dollar-gas-sunbreak-ranch" target="_self">race</a>, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Measure B sales tax" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/10/14/san-diego-county-measure-b-half-cent-tax-childcare-sewage" data-vars-content-id="b3f77bc1-42bc-493a-bb4a-74e8fe78d998" data-vars-headline="What San Diego voters need to know for Election Day" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/10/14/san-diego-county-measure-b-half-cent-tax-childcare-sewage" target="_self">Measure B sales tax</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="City Council" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/10/20/2026-election-voter-guide" data-vars-content-id="b3f77bc1-42bc-493a-bb4a-74e8fe78d998" data-vars-headline="What San Diego voters need to know for Election Day" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/10/20/2026-election-voter-guide" target="_self">City Council</a>.

15 things to do in San Diego this Halloween weekend

Catch a free waterfront concert, dance through museums or celebrate loved ones at community altars.

Things to Do

It&#x27;s a spooky Halloween weekend, and there are events galore.The big picture: Beyond trick-or-treating, there are Halloween parties, Día de los Muertos celebrations and a free waterfront concert.

How to spend less time in Costco gas lines

From pump choice to timing, these tips can help make your next fill-up easier.

Transit

San Diego gas prices are stuck above $6 a gallon, pushing many to save some money at Costco. But those lines! The big picture: Costco&#x27;s gas is on average 40 cents cheaper than our $6.25/gallon gas, but you might spend your afternoon waiting to fill up. <ul><li>There are a few tricks to save time at Costco&#x27;s pumps.</li></ul>

San Diego income growth outpaces national rate

New federal data shows local personal income climbed 5.9%, outpacing the national gain.

Money

Personal <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="income levels" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/25/trump-economy-inflation-income-growth" data-vars-content-id="d9d81d75-7c16-46fa-91a2-fe7dbf3b9890" data-vars-headline="San Diego income growth outpaces national rate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/25/trump-economy-inflation-income-growth" target="_self">income levels</a> rose 5.9% in San Diego County from 2023 to 2024, according to new U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bea.gov/data/gdp/gdp-by-county" data-vars-content-id="d9d81d75-7c16-46fa-91a2-fe7dbf3b9890" data-vars-headline="San Diego income growth outpaces national rate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bea.gov/data/gdp/gdp-by-county" target="_blank">data</a>.The big picture: That&#x27;s bigger than the national increase of 5.6%.

Your money-saving hacks and tips

From fiber deals to press-on nails and neighbor swaps, locals are cutting costs creatively.

We <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="recently asked our San Diego readers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/01/26/san-diego-budget-deficit-fee-hikes-trash-parking-water-2025" data-vars-content-id="4a73168b-007f-4f38-a0dd-8d353d9a21ae" data-vars-headline="Your money-saving hacks and tips" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/01/26/san-diego-budget-deficit-fee-hikes-trash-parking-water-2025" target="_self">recently asked our San Diego readers</a> for their money-saving hacks and tips, and they delivered.The big picture: With costs of everything from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="housing" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/02/02/saving-down-payment-san-diego-home-takes-30-years" data-vars-content-id="4a73168b-007f-4f38-a0dd-8d353d9a21ae" data-vars-headline="Your money-saving hacks and tips" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/02/02/saving-down-payment-san-diego-home-takes-30-years" target="_self">housing</a> to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="burritos" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/01/28/california-burrito-san-diego-cost-increase-restaurant-inflation" data-vars-content-id="4a73168b-007f-4f38-a0dd-8d353d9a21ae" data-vars-headline="Your money-saving hacks and tips" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/01/28/california-burrito-san-diego-cost-increase-restaurant-inflation" target="_self">burritos</a> on the rise, locals sometimes need some creativity to make ends meet.

California car insurance rates dropped in 2025

The downward trend nationwide follows a post-pandemic stretch of skyrocketing costs.

News

California <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="car insurance prices" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/08/06/rising-cost-car-insurance-california" data-vars-content-id="7c35bb2f-cc10-4965-a04b-9d723a39dfdb" data-vars-headline="California car insurance rates dropped in 2025" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/08/06/rising-cost-car-insurance-california" target="_self">car insurance prices</a> dipped 8% last year after a post-pandemic stretch of skyrocketing costs, a new<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" Insurify report" data-vars-click-url="https://insurify.com/car-insurance/report/" data-vars-content-id="7c35bb2f-cc10-4965-a04b-9d723a39dfdb" data-vars-headline="California car insurance rates dropped in 2025" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://insurify.com/car-insurance/report/" target="_blank"> Insurify report</a> finds.By the numbers: The average annual full-coverage premium was $2,309 in 2025 — about $208 cheaper than in 2024.

How San Diego grocery prices dropped and spiked in  2025

The local cost of food at home rose at the fastest pace in three years.

The cost of eating at home in San Diego fluctuated during 2025, spiking to a six-year high in July before falling in August.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Grocery prices" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/13/inflation-cpi-grocery-prices" data-vars-content-id="3a9a6144-6e2d-489e-bc26-1330c7f3ec04" data-vars-headline="How San Diego grocery prices dropped and spiked in 2025" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/13/inflation-cpi-grocery-prices" target="_self">Grocery prices</a> locally and nationally rose at the fastest pace in three years, keeping pressure on household budgets even as overall <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="inflation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/13/inflation-cpi-prices-december" data-vars-content-id="3a9a6144-6e2d-489e-bc26-1330c7f3ec04" data-vars-headline="How San Diego grocery prices dropped and spiked in 2025" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/13/inflation-cpi-prices-december" target="_self">inflation</a> held steady in December.

San Diego's highest-paying industries

Tech, biotech and aerospace top the list of industries for best pay in San Diego.

San Diegans working in tech industries are getting the biggest paychecks in the city on average, according to 2023 Glassdoor data.Between the lines: San Diego salaries are higher than the national average across most industries, which is expected in one of the country&#x27;s most expensive cities.

SD inks union construction pact

Local unions will now handle most public works projects after signing a blanket project labor agreement.

The city of San Diego on Wednesday reached a major deal for local construction unions, agreeing to a seven-year project labor agreement, or PLA, on all city work exceeding $5 million for the next two years and more than $1 million for the following five years.State of play: The agreement among the San Diego County Building and Construction Trades Council stipulates wages and benefits for workers and guarantees sufficient labor to complete projects, while requiring contractors to hire through union halls.

Axios What's Next

A U.S. map showing the change in personal income from 2023 to 2024 by county. On average, income increased 5.6%. In 331 counties, mostly in the Plains states from North Dakota to Texas, saw a decrease. 2,768 counties saw an increase. 

Change in personal income, 2023 to 2024

Data: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis; Note: Data not available for Connecticut; Map: Jacque Schrag/Axios

A choropleth map of the U.S. showing the change in average annual car insurance costs from 2024 to 2025, per Insurify. New Jersey had the biggest gain (+20%), while Wyoming had the biggest fall (-30%). Nationally, costs fell by 6%.

Change in average annual car insurance costs from 2024 to 2025

Data: Insurify; Map: Alex Fitzpatrick/Axios

Axios Macro

A column chart showing the month-over-month change in the cost of food at home in the San Diego metro area for all months in 2025. On average, food costs in San Diego rose slower than the national average. Comparing December to November, food at home cost 1.2% more in San Diego, and 0.5% more nationally.