Financial Hardship Simulator
Making Ends Meet in San Diego County
The Reality of Financial Insecurity
Did you know that 31% of San Diego County households do not earn enough to make ends meet?
The rising cost of living in San Diego County continues to push more individuals and families closer to financial uncertainty. According to United Ways of California’s 2025 Real Cost Measure study, a family of four must make an annual salary of at least $116,000 to get by in San Diego County– that is equivalent to working more than three minimum-wage full-time jobs! This stark reality means that basic necessities such as housing, transportation, and food place an enormous burden on families and make it nearly impossible to get by.
ShortFall Financial Hardship Simulator
To illustrate how difficult it can be to get by in San Diego County with disadvantaged circumstances and a limited income, we’ve created ShortFall, a financial hardship simulator. We hope it helps you gain a better understanding of the dire financial situations and difficult decisions that many San Diego individuals and families face daily.
Put Yourself in Someone Else’s Shoes
Close your eyes– imagine that you are a single parent to three children, a 3-year-old, 7-year-old, and 10-year-old. You work full time, but because of the high cost of living in San Diego County, you are finding it difficult to provide for yourself and your children, let alone get ahead. You are not fully fluent in English, and it is a daily struggle to navigate language and financial barriers, but you want to remain in San Diego County because you have strong ties to your family and community here.
Get started to experience how hard it can be to get by monthly in San Diego County.
Make an Impact Today
Donate today to create a lasting impact on the lives of thousands of San Diegans throughout the county. Whether you choose to make a one-time contribution or become a monthly donor, your generosity drives our mission to close gaps in our community through economic mobility and education initiatives.