| Index | Long Beach | New York | National |
| Cost of living | 162 | 121 | 100 |
| Groceries | 106 | 106 | 100 |
| Health care | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Housing | 283 | 144 | 100 |
| Transportation | 112 | 113 | 100 |
| Utilities | 109 | 112 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 111 | 111 | 100 |
| Household Items | 103 | 106 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 118 | 118 | 100 |

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 162, marking it 62% higher than the national average.
If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Long Beach may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Long Beach falls within this bracket.
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 182.6%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.
Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 9 residents in Long Beach to learn how they view the cost of living. We asked how they felt about the cost of living in their area, and if they thought that prices were increasing, decreasing or staying the same. The verdict? 33% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 67% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.
Is Long Beach affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Long Beach, the median home price is 212.2% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 113.4% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Long Beach boasting a median household income of $160,503, 97.3% higher than the national average.
Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Long Beach, healthcare costs are 11.1% higher than the national average.
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 6% higher than the national average.
Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday household expenses like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Long Beach starts at 4% and the income tax rates start at 4%.
The cost of living estimates displayed for Long Beach are modeled using a U.S. average baseline of 100, helping provide a useful comparison of local living expenses. Housing calculations include U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are AI-assisted estimates based on regional cost patterns, climate, transportation, and everyday spending expectations. These values are intended for directional comparisons across cities.
| 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 | $191,298 | $15,942 | $4,463 | $5,740 |
| Renters | $118,936 | $9,911 | $2,775 | $3,568 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| New York | 4% | 8.875% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| New York | 4% | 10.9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Hempstead, NY | 56,908 | 131 | 30.5% |
| North Lindenhurst, NY | 11,096 | 131 | 30.8% |
| Copiague, NY | 23,901 | 131 | 31.3% |
| Roslyn, NY | 2,998 | 132 | 32.2% |
| North Amityville, NY | 19,627 | 133 | 32.5% |
| Long Beach, NY | 34,428 | 162 | 61.7% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Springville, UT | 34,438 | 114 | 14.2% |
| Estero, FL | 34,403 | 127 | 27.3% |
| Kaneohe, HI | 34,467 | 200 | 100.1% |
| Mason, OH | 34,386 | 116 | 16.3% |
| Cedar City, UT | 34,473 | 105 | 4.8% |
| Long Beach, NY | 34,428 | 162 | 61.7% |