| Index | Long Beach | California | National |
| Cost of living | 162 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 110 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 118 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 266 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 118 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 120 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 124 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 112 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 133 | 127 | 100 |
The cost of living in Long Beach affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Long Beach is 162, which is 62% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Long Beach is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Long Beach falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.
Housing costs are a very significant part of the Long Beach cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 166.1% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.
Recurring household expenses such as cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, toiletries, and kitchen basics are a steady part of monthly spending and make up 8% of the cost of living index. In Long Beach, these everyday items will cost you 12.4% more than average, making it a slightly more expensive place to call home.
The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 20 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Long Beach. The feedback revealed that 35% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 65% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.
Is Long Beach an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Long Beach is 218.1% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 44.7% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Long Beach has a median household income of $99,373, which is 22.2% higher than the national average.
Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Long Beach comes in at 19.6% higher than the national average.
Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Long Beach, healthcare costs are 17.5% higher than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain cities or states may institute government subsidies or assistance programs designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with the cost of living for their residents. These programs encompass a variety of support mechanisms, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Areas that provide fewer subsidies may see an uptick in their overall cost of living.
The Long Beach cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $149,761 | $12,480 | $3,494 | $4,493 |
| Renters | $76,071 | $6,339 | $1,775 | $2,282 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| California | 7.25% | 10.5% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| California | 1% | 13.3% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Rolling Hills CDP, CA | 855 | 133 | 33.4% |
| Willowbrook, CA | 25,347 | 136 | 36.0% |
| East Rancho Dominguez, CA | 15,765 | 136 | 36.3% |
| Florence-Graham, CA | 66,603 | 138 | 38.2% |
| Compton, CA | 98,731 | 139 | 38.7% |
| Long Beach, CA | 480,084 | 162 | 62.4% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 481,855 | 121 | 21.0% |
| Raleigh, NC | 482,278 | 115 | 14.5% |
| Miami, FL | 470,437 | 129 | 29.0% |
| Omaha, NE | 494,852 | 98 | 2.5% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | 463,341 | 120 | 19.7% |
| Long Beach, CA | 480,084 | 162 | 62.4% |
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