Guides/San Diego/Data Center
Data CenterSan Diego

Data Center Investment in San Diego

San Diego's data center market got hot when hyperscalers discovered they could build cheaper here than LA or Silicon Valley. You've got solid power infrastructure from SDG&E, decent fiber connectivity, and AI workloads driving crazy demand. Cross-border connectivity to Mexico matters more than people think. Cap rates are running tight but power capacity constraints keep supply in check.

Market Context

Cap Rate Range

5.2% - 6.8%

Current Vacancy

8%

Rent Trend

Up 18% year-over-year

Absorption

2.1M sf absorbed in 2025

Price Per Unit Trend

$185-$220 per KW capacity

Transaction Volume

$840M in 2025, up 45% from prior year

Submarket Analysis

Kearny Mesa

5.4% cap

Vacancy

5%

Avg Rent (1BR)

$28 per KW/month

Hot. Close to Qualcomm, good power access, most new construction happening here.

OM Tip

Show distance to major fiber routes and SDG&E substations

Sorrento Valley

5.8% cap

Vacancy

12%

Avg Rent (1BR)

$32 per KW/month

Premium pricing but limited expansion room. Biotech companies want local edge capacity.

OM Tip

Life science tenant base supports higher rents, emphasize research connectivity

Otay Mesa

6.2% cap

Vacancy

15%

Avg Rent (1BR)

$24 per KW/month

Border proximity driving Latin American connectivity demand. Cheaper land for hyperscale.

OM Tip

Cross-border fiber routes are the selling point here

Downtown/East Village

5.6% cap

Vacancy

8%

Avg Rent (1BR)

$35 per KW/month

Edge applications, financial services. Limited supply keeps rates high.

OM Tip

Low latency to financial district matters for enterprise tenants

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What Your OM Needs to Address

Power Infrastructure Detail

SDG&E power availability and redundancy levels

Data to Include

Total MW capacity, N+1 or 2N redundancy, backup generator capacity, utility rate schedules and demand charges

Cooling System Specs

PUE ratings and cooling redundancy for high-density racks

Data to Include

Current PUE, design PUE at full capacity, cooling redundancy level, rack density support up to X kW

Fiber Connectivity Map

On-net carriers and latency to major connectivity hubs

Data to Include

List of on-net carriers, latency to LA, Phoenix, cross-border fiber routes to Mexico

Tenant Credit Analysis

Credit quality and lease terms of major tenants

Data to Include

Tenant credit ratings, lease escalations, expansion options, early termination provisions

Expansion Capacity

Available land and utility capacity for future phases

Data to Include

Developable land area, additional power capacity available from utility, zoning restrictions

SLA Performance History

Uptime track record and service level compliance

Data to Include

Historical uptime percentage, SLA credits paid, planned vs unplanned downtime hours

Investment Outlook

Short Term

AI demand keeps pushing rents up but watch utility costs. SDG&E rates are climbing faster than other California markets. New supply in Kearny Mesa might soften vacancy by Q4 2026.

Medium Term

Cross-border connectivity becomes bigger differentiator as nearshoring grows. Mexican enterprises want US-based edge capacity. Power constraints will limit new supply through 2028.

Long Term

San Diego becomes the connectivity hub for Pacific Rim and Latin America. Defense spending around military bases supports steady enterprise demand. Climate advantages over Phoenix and Vegas matter more as cooling costs rise.

Buyer Profile

Institutional buyers want stabilized assets with investment-grade tenants. Opportunity funds are buying value-add properties that need AI infrastructure upgrades. Foreign capital interested in cross-border connectivity plays.

Marketing a data center property in San Diego?

DealDraft generates professional offering memorandums with market-specific data and property-type expertise built in.

Create Your OM