Overview
San Marcos is a popular city in California, just north of San Diego. Its ideal location and warm weather have made it an attractive option for retirees. The city has a small town feel, and plenty of greenspaces and beaches on the coast.
Climate and Geography
San Marcos is a coastal city, located in Southern California. Summers are sunny and warm, while temperatures in the winter rarely reach freezing. Residents can expect less rain than the national average and over 200 sunny days a year.
San Marcos is a built-out suburb of San Diego. It consists of mostly flat land and many large bodies of water and coastline.
Recreation, Culture, and Entertainment
San Marcos is home to many outdoor attractions ranging from state parks to beaches, and even vineyards. The most prominent of these are Double Peak Park, Discovery Lake, Jack’s Pond Park & Nature Center.
There are also a number of golf courses around the city. San Marcos also has plenty of breweries and wineries, including a local favorite, RIP Current Brewing. San Marcos is less than an hour away from San Diego where residents can go and enjoy the amenities of a bigger city.
Cost of Living & Taxes
Much like the rest of California, the cost of living in San Marcos is higher than the national average. The housing cost is well above the median for the U.S. Other categories such as groceries, utilities, and transportation are all higher than national averages.
California does not tax Social Security income but the majority of other retirement benefits are taxable. Residents over 65, can claim an extra $118 exemption that comes right off their tax bill. The state sales tax in California is 6 percent and San Marcos does add a 1.75 percent tax on that rate.
Health Care
Near San Marcos residents can find three hospitals that are highly rated by U.S News. They are Palomar Medical Center Escondido, Scripps Memorial Hospital-Encinitas, and Palomar Medical Center Poway. About 20 miles outside the city there is Scripps La Jolla Hospital which is nationally ranked in eight specialties and ranked high performing in two more adult specialties and nine procedures.