F
57%
Overall NAT. AVG.
12%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
165%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Long Beach California National
Cost of living157140100
Goods & Services112111100
Groceries113112100
Health care99109100
Housing265196100
Transportation124126100
Utilities94127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Long Beach, CA

Knowing the cost of living in Long Beach allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Long Beach stands at 157, marking it 57% higher than the national average.

If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, Long Beach may not be the most suitable option, as it stands out as one of the priciest areas in the entire United States. Only a small fraction of regions have a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Long Beach falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.

Housing costs significantly influence the Long Beach cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 165.4%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.

Everyday goods and services make up 33% of the cost of living index and include things like clothing, personal hygiene products and entertainment which are a large portion of your monthly expenditures. Unfortunately, Long Beach goods and services are 12% more expensive than the national average, leaving you with less money at the end of the month.

The relentless increase in grocery prices is a noteworthy trend. In the last two years, grocery costs have experienced an upward trajectory of over 10%. Unfortunately, Long Beach is no exception, where grocery prices are 13.1% above the national average.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Long Beach?

When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 20 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Long Beach. The results indicated that 35% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 65% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.

Is Long Beach Affordable?

Is Long Beach an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Long Beach, the median home price is 216.3% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 46.6% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Long Beach come in at $66,410, which is 20% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Long Beach?

Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Long Beach, the groceries index is 13.1% higher than the national average.

Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Long Beach, healthcare costs are 1.2% lower than the national average.

Urbanization: Urban areas with extensive amenities and job opportunities tend to have a higher cost of living due to increased demand for services and relocation, resulting in higher home prices and higher rents. Less densely populated rural areas, or areas with less demand tend to have fewer amenities and slower job growth, which results in a lower cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Long Beach, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Long Beach is 13% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in Long Beach is 57% higher than the national average
  • Long Beach housing is 165% higher than the national average
  • California general sales tax is 42% higher than the national average
  • California state income tax is 61% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Long Beach

See all the best places to live around Long Beach

Compare Long Beach, CA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$102,380$8,532$2,389$3,072
      Renters$50,566$4,214$1,180$1,517
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Long Beach is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Long Beach has a median income of about $102,380 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $2,389 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $50,566. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,180 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      California Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      California 7.25% 10.5%

      California Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      California 1% 13.3%

      Goods & Services

      Item Long Beach National avg. Difference
      Haircut $27.27$24.2612.4%
      Beauty Salon $41.78$45.568.3%
      Toothpaste $3.61$3.702.6%
      Shampoo $1.34$1.284.9%
      Movie $11.04$12.139.0%
      Bowling $21.11$18.0017.3%

      Groceries

      Item Long Beach National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.89$5.840.8%
      Fried Chicken $3.49$1.57121.9%
      Milk $4.92$4.675.4%
      Potatoes $4.92$4.930.3%
      Pizza $15.31$12.0926.6%
      Beer $10.26$10.411.4%

      Health Care

      Item Long Beach National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $112.92$125.6810.2%
      Doctor $95.50$135.7829.7%
      Dentist $117.28$113.293.5%
      Ibuprofen $10.58$10.650.7%
      Lipitor $521.17$468.6011.2%

      Housing

      Item Long Beach National avg. Difference
      Home Price $584,200.00$184,700.00216.3%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,441.43$2,346.694.0%
      Apartment Rent $1,391.00$949.0046.6%

      Transportation

      Item Long Beach National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.75$3.4637.3%
      Tire Balancing $61.38$59.922.4%

      Utilities

      Item Long Beach National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $378.97$193.9995.4%
      Phone $180.31$192.256.2%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Willowbrook, CA24,40113333.3%
      Rolling Hills CDP, CA83213433.9%
      Compton, CA95,80413636.2%
      Florence-Graham, CA64,78713736.5%
      East Rancho Dominguez, CA15,25213736.7%
      Long Beach, CA462,08115757.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Miami, FL461,08012423.8%
      Raleigh, NC469,69811110.5%
      Colorado Springs, CO471,68611919.3%
      Halifax, NS451,852n/a 
      Virginia Beach, VA450,88211616.2%
      Long Beach, CA462,08115757.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.