Bars in San Diego County, CA — Market Data (2023)
348 bars operate in San Diego County, CA, based on 2023 U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns (CBP) data — the same establishment counts the federal government uses for economic statistics.
Market density
That works out to 1.064 establishments per 10,000 residents, 10.6% below the national average of 1.19 per 10,000 residents for bars. Markets with lower density have fewer competitors per capita; markets with higher density have more.
Market data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Establishments | 348 |
| Density (per 10,000 residents) | 1.064 |
| Employment | 5,746 |
| Annual payroll | $186,730,000 |
| Average business size (employees/establishment) | 16.5 |
| County population (2023) | 3,269,973 |
Less saturated nearby markets
These counties have a lower bars density than San Diego County — fewer competitors per capita for the same industry.
- Alameda County, CA: 1.017 per 10,000 residents (165 establishments)
- Nassau County, NY: 0.977 per 10,000 residents (135 establishments)
- Orange County, FL: 0.958 per 10,000 residents (141 establishments)
- Dallas County, TX: 0.921 per 10,000 residents (240 establishments)
See the full Bars by county ranking for all 45 counties with available data.
Frequently asked questions
How many bars are there in San Diego County, CA?
348 bars operate in San Diego County, CA, according to 2023 U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns data.
Is the bars market in San Diego County, CA saturated compared to the national average?
San Diego County, CA has 1.064 bars per 10,000 residents, which is 10.6% below the national average of 1.19 per 10,000 residents. That means fewer competitors per capita than the typical U.S. county.
What is the average size of a bar business in San Diego County, CA?
The average bar business in San Diego County, CA has about 16.5 employees (5,746 total employment ÷ 348 establishments).
Are there less saturated nearby markets for bars?
Yes — Alameda County, CA has a lower density (1.017 per 10,000 residents) than San Diego County, CA, along with 3 other nearby counties listed below.