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Payday Loans in San Diego, CA: Stores, Costs and Rules
Updated November 2026 · By Payday Loans Reviews Editorial Team · Not a lender
Yes, payday loans are available in San Diego. California allows licensed lenders to offer them under the Deferred Deposit Transaction Law, which is enforced by the CA DFPI. In the city itself, you'll find 12 payday and installment storefronts listed in our directory. These state rules and local options set the boundaries for what you can borrow and what it'll cost.
The law caps loans at $300 and limits the fee to 15% of the check face value, so the maximum fee on a full $300 loan is $45. Terms must run between 7 and 31 days. You can't roll a loan over into a new one, and you can only have one active loan at a time. For someone borrowing the full $300 for 14 days, that $45 fee means repaying $345 total, which works out to an example APR of about 391%. The typical APR for these loans runs around 460%.
San Diego County · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area
San Diego borrowers and California payday laws
- Max loan amount
- $300
- Min loan term
- 7 days
- Max loan term
- 31 days
- Finance charge cap
- 15% of check face value
- Max absolute fee
- $45
- Typical APR
- ~460%
- Rollovers (extensions)
- Prohibited
- Simultaneous loans
- 1 active loan
- Right to rescind
- Next business day
- Governing law
- California Deferred Deposit Transaction Law
- Regulator
- CA DFPI
Payday loan cost calculator for San Diego
Move the sliders to see what a payday loan would cost under California rules and how it compares with local incomes.
California maximum: $300
California maximum: $15
Rollovers are not allowed in California.
- Fee
- $45
- Total to repay
- $345
- APR
- 391%
- Share of a two-week household paycheck in San Diego
- 1.1%
Estimate only. APR = fee ÷ amount × 365 ÷ term. Lenders may charge less than the state maximum; actual terms vary.
Payday loan stores in San Diego, CA
Licensed storefront lenders in San Diego with addresses, phone numbers and hours. We do not rank or recommend any lender; confirm each company's license with the CA DFPI before you borrow.
| Address | Phone | Hours | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4874 Genesee Ave San Diego, CA 92117 | (858) 273-5709 | — | 4.9 |
| 3145 El Cajon Blvd. San Diego, CA 92104 | (619) 640-1799 | Mon–Fri 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Sat 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Sun closed |
— |
| 3410 Palm Avenue, Ste. 103 San Diego, CA 92154 | (619) 816-2536 | Mon–Fri 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Sat 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Sun closed |
— |
| 8006 Clairemont Mesa Blvd San Diego, CA 92111 | (619) 736-8001 | — | 4.7 |
| 5015 Shoreham Pl #100 San Diego, CA 92122 | (858) 259-8700 | — | 4.0 |
| 2702 El Cajon Blvd San Diego, CA 92104 | (619) 563-6669 | — | 4.8 |
| 6165 El Cajon Blvd Ste l San Diego, CA 92115 | (619) 693-4533 | — | 4.0 |
| 9095 Rio San Diego Dr #340 San Diego, CA 92108 | (619) 280-4440 | — | 3.8 |
| 9909 Mira Mesa Blvd Ste 155 San Diego, CA 92131 | (619) 483-0280 | — | 3.8 |
| 1950 Main St San Diego, CA 92113 | (866) 488-6090 | — | 5.0 |
| 1490 S 43rd St Ste C San Diego, CA 92113 | (888) 407-2998 | — | 4.8 |
| 6686 El Cajon Blvd f San Diego, CA 92115 | (619) 464-1731 | — | 4.8 |
San Diego at a glance
| Metric | San Diego | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1.3M | 39.2M | 332.3M |
| Median household income | $109,682 | $102,369 | $85,275 |
| Median rent | $2,304/mo | $2,042/mo | $1,432/mo |
| Income spent on rent | 32.8% | 34.0% | 31.6% |
| Homeownership | 49.0% | 56.5% | 65.4% |
| Poverty rate | 11.0% | 12.0% | 12.6% |
| Unemployment rate | 5.8% | 6.5% | 5.3% |
| Without health insurance | 6.2% | 6.9% | 8.6% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | 4.5% | 6.5% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, by ZIP code. City and state figures are population-weighted averages of ZIP code data and are approximate.
What a payday loan costs in San Diego
- Fee on a $300 loan
- $45
- Share of a two-week household paycheck
- 1.1%
- Hours of work at the local median wage
- 1.7 hours
- Rollovers
- Not allowed in California
Example based on the California maximum fee for the maximum loan and local median incomes: two-week paycheck = household income ÷ 26, hourly wage = individual income ÷ 2,080. Actual terms vary by lender.
Payday loans in San Diego: how to apply
Life throws curveballs. When you need quick cash in San Diego, our service pairs you with lenders who hold valid state licenses.
You can fill out the form from your couch, hear back quickly, and—if a lender approves—see the money in your bank account as soon as the next business day.
Why San Diego residents use us
- Fast 5-minute request A browser-based request you finish without visiting a loan shop.
- Bad credit considered Reviews emphasize your ongoing ability to earn income instead of past credit reports alone.
- Borrow up to $300 Loan terms must comply with the California Deferred Deposit Transaction Law.
- Safe & confidential We protect your identity and account details using industry-standard encryption.
Notice for San Diego residents: Payday lending addresses immediate, one-time expenses instead of chronic debt issues. State regulations in California, specifically the California Deferred Deposit Transaction Law, dictate permissible loan caps, finance charges and rates. Inspect all repayment terms in your contract before agreeing to borrow.
Read more about borrowing in San Diego
Who runs payday stores in San Diego
| Company | Stores | Share of stores | Average Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| OneMain Financial | 3 | 25% | 3.9 |
| Advance America | 2 | 17% | — |
| Oportun | 2 | 17% | 4.9 |
| ACE Cash Express | 1 | 8% | 4.9 |
| Lendmark Financial Services | 1 | 8% | 4.7 |
| loanDepot | 1 | 8% | 4.0 |
| Moneytree | 1 | 8% | 4.8 |
| Speedy Cash | 1 | 8% | 4.8 |
Store counts and ratings from our directory. We do not rank or recommend lenders.
San Diego in context
- Population rank in California
- 2nd
- of 213 California cities with 50,000+ residents
- Median household income rank
- 78th
- of 213 California cities with 50,000+ residents
- Households earning under $25,000
- 11.5%
- ▼ 1.1 pts vs CA
- Median home value
- $865,071
- ▲ 10% vs CA
- Home value to income
- 7.9×
- A $400 emergency expense
- 1.3 days
- of median household income
San Diego at a glance: budgets and payday costs
San Diego has about 1,330,316 residents in San Diego County, one of the five largest cities in California. Census estimates put the typical San Diego household at $109,682 a year, in line with California as a whole ($102,369); nationally the median is $85,275.
San Diego renters pay a median of $2,304 a month versus $2,042 statewide. Renters put roughly 32.8% of income toward housing. 11.0% of residents live below the poverty line, below the California rate of 12.0%. 11.5% of households bring in less than $25,000. Unemployment stands near 5.8% (statewide: 6.5%). About 49.0% of homes are owner-occupied, so 51.0% of households rent.
For a median San Diego household, the $45 fee on a $300 payday loan equals 1.1% of one paycheck, or about 2 hours of work at the local median wage. Rent in neighboring Hemet is about $1,548 a month ($757 less). In Carlsbad, the median household income is $140,642 (28% more than here). Locally, you will find 12 licensed loan storefronts, 8 credit unions, 183 bank branches and 36 pawn shops in San Diego.
A typical home here is valued at about $865,071 (10% above the California median). Home prices run roughly 7.9× annual household income. The median individual income is $53,852. San Diego is part of the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area.
San Diego and nearby cities
| City | Population | Median household income | Median rent | Poverty rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | 1,330,316 | $109,682 | $2,304 | 11.0% |
| La Mesa | 74,626 | $94,968 | $1,994 | 10.1% |
| Chula Vista | 272,064 | $105,230 | $2,326 | 8.5% |
| Carlsbad | 114,500 | $140,642 | $2,816 | 6.9% |
| Menifee | 124,824 | $99,418 | $2,155 | 9.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey estimates.
San Diego payday loan cost table
| Amount | Fee (14 days) | APR | Repay once | Repay after 2 renewals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | $15 | 391% | $115 | $145 |
| $200 | $30 | 391% | $230 | $290 |
| $300 | $45 | 391% | $345 | $435 |
Fee of $15 per $100 per term from state rules in our database; renewals only where the state allows them.
FAQ for San Diego borrowers
How much do households earn in San Diego?
Census estimates show a median household income of $109,682 and a median rent of $2,304 a month in San Diego.
Where can I borrow locally in San Diego?
Our directories list 12 licensed loan storefronts and 8 credit unions in San Diego, California. Credit unions usually charge far less than storefront lenders for small loans.
How much of their income do San Diego renters spend on housing?
Renters in San Diego spend about 32.8% of their income on housing, against a 30% affordability benchmark, and 11.0% of residents live below the poverty line (statewide: 12.0%).
How fast can I get the cash after approval in San Diego?
Online lending decisions often arrive in just a few minutes. After you read the terms and apply your electronic signature, lenders generally initiate the deposit the same day or on the next business day, subject to your bank's processing schedule.
What do I need to meet to borrow in San Diego?
To qualify, you must:
- At minimum, you must be 18 years old.
- Your address should be in San Diego or the surrounding California region.
- Keep an active checking account under your own name.
- Provide documents that prove you get monthly income from a job, benefits or ongoing deposits.