Senior living in San Diego, California spans 3 verified communities and 81 Medicare-certified nursing homes across San Diego County in California. Published starting rates at featured communities run $3,000–$6,500 per month, 35 area nursing homes hold a 5-star CMS rating, and every community review here comes from a verified phone interview — 60+ in total. 611 state-licensed assisted living, memory care, and independent living communities are listed below by county.
Every community below has been independently reviewed through recorded phone interviews with its own residents and families. Prices shown are the operators’ published starting rates — not estimates, and not gated behind a form.
| Community | Location | Care types | Starting price | Phone-verified reviews | CMS rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cypress Court | Escondido, CA | Independent LivingAssisted Living | From $3,000/mo | 20+ verifiedlatest Sep 2026 | — |
| Ocean Hills Senior Living | Oceanside, CA | Independent LivingAssisted LivingMemory Care | Call for pricing | 20+ verifiedlatest Aug 2026 | — |
| Summerfield of Encinitas | Encinitas, CA | Memory Care | From $6,500/mo | 20+ verifiedlatest Aug 2026 | — |
Starting rates published by each operator, verified June 2026. Skilled nursing is typically billed by payer (Medicare/Medicaid/private) rather than a monthly rate. CMS ratings apply to Medicare-certified skilled nursing only — assisted living is state-licensed and has no federal rating.
“My mother lives at the community and she is absolutely ecstatic with everything. The staff are kind, responsive, and truly make us feel like family, not just another…”
“I live at the community and it honestly feels like a high-end hotel where everything is taken care of. The building is beautiful, the dining room feels like a real…”
“My spouse lives at the community and I’ve been very happy with the experience. The management team is always helpful and easy to reach. The food looks good, he enjoys…”
Every assisted living, memory care, and independent living community licensed by the state in San Diego County in California, from state licensing records. Listing here is not a rating: Lilisity publishes no score for any community that has not earned an award. Communities marked verified reviews have phone-verified resident and family interviews on file.
Verified starting rates at featured San Diego communities range from $3,000 per month at Cypress Court (independent living) to $6,500 at Summerfield of Encinitas (memory care). Memory care generally runs $1,000–$1,500 above assisted living; skilled nursing is billed through Medicare, Medicaid, or private pay rather than monthly rent.
| Care type | Typical San Diego range | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Independent living | $3,000 – $4,500 | Private apartment or cottage, meals and services optional |
| Assisted living | $4,500 – $6,500 | Daily personal care, meals, medication management |
| Memory care | $5,500 – $8,000 | Secured neighborhood, dementia-trained staff |
| Skilled nursing | Payer-based | 24/7 medical care; Medicare/Medicaid/private pay |
Ranges reflect published rates at verified San Diego-area communities plus operator-published market rates, September 2026. California’s Medicaid waiver programs and VA Aid & Attendance can offset costs — see the FAQ below.
35 of the 81 Medicare-certified nursing homes in the San Diego metro hold the highest possible 5-star overall rating from CMS — including Edgemoor Hospital in Santee. Every facility below links to its full inspection history, staffing hours, and deficiency record.
| Facility ↕ | Location ↕ | CMS rating ↕ | Beds ↕ | Operator ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edgemoor Hospital | Santee, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 192 | Independent |
| Veterans Home Of California - Chula Vista | Chula Vista, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 180 | Independent |
| The Villas At Poway | Poway, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 129 | Independent |
| Jacob Healthcare Center | San Diego, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 128 | Links Healthcare Group |
| Villa Coronado D/P Snf | Coronado, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 122 | Independent |
| Ocean View Post Acute | Escondido, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 120 | David & Frank Johnson |
| Vista Knoll Specialized Care Facility | Vista, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 119 | The Ensign Group |
| Stanford Court Skilled Nursing & Rehab Center | Santee, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 105 | Generations Healthcare |
| Friendship Manor Nursing & Rehab Center | National City, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 104 | Generations Healthcare |
| Bella Vista Health Center | Lemon Grove, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 99 | Independent |
| Castle Manor Nursing & Rehabilitation Center | National City, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 99 | Generations Healthcare |
| Encinitas Nursing And Rehabilitation Center | Encinitas, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 99 | Covenant Care |
| Poway Healthcare Center | Poway, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 99 | Pacs Group |
| South Bay Post Acute Care | Chula Vista, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 99 | The Ensign Group |
| Kearny Mesa Convalescent And Nursing Home | San Diego, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 98 | Generations Healthcare |
| Glenbrook | Carlsbad, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 94 | Continuing Life |
| La Mesa Healthcare Center | La Mesa, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 94 | Pacs Group |
| Lakeside Special Care Center | Lakeside, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 94 | Generations Healthcare |
| La Paloma Healthcare Center | Oceanside, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 93 | Pacs Group |
| Grossmont Post Acute Care | La Mesa, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 90 | The Ensign Group |
| University Care Center | San Diego, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 87 | Pacs Group |
| Paradise Valley Health Care | National City, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 86 | Pacs Group |
| Vi At La Jolla Village | San Diego, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 60 | Vi Living |
| Redwood Terrace Health Center | Escondido, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 59 | Humangood |
| The Cove At La Jolla | La Jolla, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 59 | The Ensign Group |
| The Springs At Pacific Regent | San Diego, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 59 | The Ensign Group |
| The Dorothy & Joseph Goldberg Healthcare Center | Encinitas, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 58 | Independent |
| Bradley Court | El Cajon, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 56 | Generations Healthcare |
| Arroyo Vista Nursing Center | San Diego, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 53 | The Ensign Group |
| Parkside Health And Wellness Center | El Cajon, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 52 | The Ensign Group |
| Bayshire Carlsbad | Carlsbad, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 45 | Bayshire Senior Communities |
| Helen Bernardy Center D/P Snf | San Diego, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 43 | Independent |
| Carlsbad By The Sea | Carlsbad, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 33 | Front Porch |
| Grossmont Hospital D/P Snf | La Mesa, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 30 | Independent |
| Meadowbrook Village Christian Retirement Community | Escondido, CA | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 19 | Independent |
| Villa Rancho Bernardo Care Center | San Diego, CA | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | 299 | David & Frank Johnson |
| Balboa Nursing & Rehabilitation Center | San Diego, CA | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | 194 | Pacs Group |
| Escondido Post Acute | Escondido, CA | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | 180 | Pacs Group |
| Reo Vista Healthcare Center | San Diego, CA | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | 162 | Pacs Group |
| Boulder Creek Post Acute | Poway, CA | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | 149 | Madison Creek Partners |
| Victoria Post Acute Care | El Cajon, CA | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | 120 | The Ensign Group |
| Community Care Center | La Mesa, CA | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | 119 | Links Healthcare Group |
| Village Square Healthcare Center | San Marcos, CA | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | 118 | Mariner Health Care |
| Sharp Chula Vista Med Ctr Snf | Chula Vista, CA | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | 100 | Independent |
| Country Manor La Mesa Healthcare Center | La Mesa, CA | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | 99 | Cambridge Healthcare Services |
| Golden Hill Post Acute | San Diego, CA | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | 99 | The Ensign Group |
| National City Post Acute | National City, CA | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | 98 | Windsor |
| Fallbrook Skilled Nursing | Fallbrook, CA | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | 93 | Progressive Health Care Centers |
| Mount Miguel Covenant Village | Spring Valley, CA | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | 90 | Covenant Living |
| Brighton Place Spring Valley | Spring Valley, CA | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | 68 | Pacific Healthcare Holdings |
| Valley Vista Post Acute | Escondido, CA | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | 59 | Covenant Care |
| Amaya Springs Health Care Center | Spring Valley, CA | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | 50 | Pacific Healthcare Holdings |
| Bayshire Torrey Pines Post-Acute | San Diego, CA | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | 45 | Bayshire Senior Communities |
| Ridgeview Skilled Nursing Facility | San Diego, CA | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | 45 | Continuing Life |
| The Royal Home | El Cajon, CA | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | 19 | Independent |
| The Shores Post-Acute | San Diego, CA | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | 305 | Links Healthcare Group |
| Vista View Post Acute | Vista, CA | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | 176 | David & Frank Johnson |
| La Jolla Nursing And Rehabilitation Center | La Jolla, CA | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | 161 | Covenant Care |
| Lemon Grove Care And Rehabilitation Center | Lemon Grove, CA | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | 158 | The Ensign Group |
| Villa Las Palmas Healthcare Center | El Cajon, CA | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | 151 | Pacs Group |
| Carmel Mountain Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center | San Diego, CA | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | 120 | The Ensign Group |
| Arbor Hills Nursing Center | La Mesa, CA | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | 100 | Generations Healthcare |
| Magnolia Post Acute Care | El Cajon, CA | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | 99 | The Ensign Group |
| Hillcrest Manor Sanitarium | National City, CA | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | 98 | Independent |
| Palomar Heights Post Acute | Escondido, CA | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | 98 | Pacs Group |
| Cottonwood Canyon Healthcare Center | El Cajon, CA | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | 96 | Pacs Group |
| Hillcrest Heights Healthcare Center | San Diego, CA | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | 96 | Aspen Skilled Healthcare |
| Mission Hills Post Acute Care | San Diego, CA | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | 75 | The Ensign Group |
| Somerset Subacute And Care | El Cajon, CA | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | 65 | The Ensign Group |
| Parkway Hills Nursing & Rehabilitation | La Mesa, CA | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | 60 | Madison Creek Partners |
| Aviara Healthcare Center | Encinitas, CA | ★★☆☆☆ 2/5 | 120 | Pacs Group |
| Brighton Place San Diego | San Diego, CA | ★★☆☆☆ 2/5 | 99 | Pacific Healthcare Holdings |
| Granite Hills Healthcare & Wellness Centre, Llc | El Cajon, CA | ★★☆☆☆ 2/5 | 99 | Independent |
| Palomar Vista Healthcare Center | Escondido, CA | ★★☆☆☆ 2/5 | 74 | The Ensign Group |
| St. Pauls Health Care Center | San Diego, CA | ★★☆☆☆ 2/5 | 59 | Independent |
| Country Hills Post Acute | El Cajon, CA | ★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 | 305 | Pacs Group |
| Stillwater Post-Acute | El Cajon, CA | ★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 | 256 | Links Healthcare Group |
| San Diego Post-Acute Center | El Cajon, CA | ★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 | 240 | Pacs Group |
| Santa Fe Post-Acute | Vista, CA | ★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 | 187 | Bayshire Senior Communities |
| The Pavilion At Ocean Point | San Diego, CA | ★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 | 133 | Pacific Healthcare Holdings |
| Casa De Las Campanas | San Diego, CA | ★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 | 99 | Life Care Services |
Source: CMS Care Compare, federal five-star quality rating system, retrieved September 2026. Lilisity republishes this government data unmodified; no facility can pay to change its rating.
Senior living in the San Diego metro is spread across San Diego County in California. The cities with the most licensed communities and nursing homes are listed below; most sit within a short drive of the region’s hospital systems, which matters for families coordinating specialist care or hospital discharge.
How Lilisity makes money: some communities pay us a referral fee when a family we’ve helped moves in. That fee never changes a review, a rating, or who appears on this page — CMS ratings come from the federal government, and reviews come from residents. Read the full methodology → · How we are paid →
“My mother lives at the community and she is absolutely ecstatic with everything. The staff are kind, responsive, and truly make us feel like family, not just another client. Her apartment is clean, bright, and well maintained, and housekeeping does an excellent job. The food is consistently…”
“I live at the community and it honestly feels like a high-end hotel where everything is taken care of. The building is beautiful, the dining room feels like a real restaurant, and the food is always delicious. There are activities going on all the time, with calendars and notices everywhere so…”
“My father lives at this community and it is great. The management is incredibly responsive and accessible, which made everything easier for us. The activities are fantastic, with a full calendar of things to do every day. I am also really pleased with the overall value for the price. My dad…”
Most states, including California, offer a Medicaid waiver that covers care costs (not room and board) at participating assisted living communities for people who qualify financially and medically. Not every community accepts the waiver, so ask early. Veterans and surviving spouses may also qualify for VA Aid & Attendance, worth up to roughly $2,300 per month toward care.
Assisted living provides housing, meals, and help with daily tasks like bathing and medications in an apartment setting, state-licensed and mostly private pay. Nursing homes (skilled nursing) provide 24/7 medical care, are federally certified and CMS-rated, and are typically paid through Medicare, Medicaid, or long-term-care insurance.
Every facility in the table above links to its full record — CMS star ratings, health-inspection findings, staffing hours per resident, and any fines or penalties, sourced from Medicare's Care Compare data. 35 San Diego-area facilities currently hold a 5-star overall rating.
Assisted living moves can happen in days when a community has availability — after a nurse assessment and paperwork. Memory care placements after a crisis often complete within one to two weeks. Calling an advisor who knows current availability is the fastest path: (833) 612-4732.
Yes. All 60 reviews on this page come from recorded, voice-to-voice phone interviews with named residents and family members, conducted and verified by Senior Living Alliance. Nothing is scraped, anonymous, or edited — including the four-star reviews.
One call covers current availability, honest pricing, and which communities fit your parent’s care needs and budget. No obligation, and we never sell your information.
(833) 612-4732Fastest — answered 7 days a week