Cost of Living in Long Beach, CA
Long Beach is about 43% more expensive than the national average.
What Things Cost
Compared to the US average (100)
Census ACS 2024
Census ACS 2024
BEA RPP 2023
BEA RPP 2023
Long Beach at a Glance
On the median income of $91,318, state income tax is roughly $12,145/year.
Sources: Census ACS 2024, Tax Foundation.
Long Beach is Southern California's underrated coastal city, offering beach access and port-city character at prices below Los Angeles and far below Orange County. The median home price of roughly $750,000 is steep by national standards but a bargain in the context of coastal Southern California. The Port of Long Beach (second busiest in the US) drives the economy alongside aerospace (Virgin Orbit's former base), healthcare, and California State University Long Beach. The city has its own distinct identity, separate from LA: a walkable downtown, a thriving LGBTQ+ community, and neighborhood diversity from the canals of Naples to the grit of the westside.
How People Get Around
Source: Census ACS 2024.
Who Lives Here
Source: Census ACS 2024.
Why People Move to Long Beach
Beach access without full LA prices. Long Beach has a genuine downtown that's walkable, with Retro Row on 4th Street offering independent shops and restaurants. The Aquarium of the Pacific is excellent. The Queen Mary (permanently docked ocean liner) is a unique landmark. The bike infrastructure is among the best in Southern California. The food scene, particularly Cambodian food (Long Beach has the largest Cambodian community outside of Cambodia), is nationally recognized. For people who want Southern California coastal living without Orange County pretension or Santa Monica prices, Long Beach delivers.
Neighborhoods
Belmont Shore is the walkable beach neighborhood with shops and restaurants along 2nd Street. Naples has canals and waterfront homes. The East Village Arts District downtown is the urban core. Bixby Knolls is family-friendly with tree-lined streets. Retro Row on 4th Street is the hipster strip. Los Cerritos is affluent and quiet. North Long Beach and the westside are more affordable but less polished.
Things to Consider
California's 13.3% top income tax rate applies. The combined sales tax exceeds 10%. The Port generates industrial traffic, noise, and air quality concerns in nearby neighborhoods. Some areas have elevated crime rates. The westside and north Long Beach neighborhoods face poverty and safety challenges. Traffic to LA or Orange County jobs can be brutal. The airport (LGB) is convenient but limited in routes. Earthquake risk is real throughout Southern California.
Compare Long Beach To...
Frequently Asked Questions About Long Beach
Generally yes, especially for housing. The median home in Long Beach ($849,500) is below LA's city-wide median. Rental prices are also typically lower. The gap narrows in premium neighborhoods like Belmont Shore, which can rival West LA prices. The real savings come in middle-market neighborhoods where Long Beach offers better value per square foot than most LA equivalents.
Yes. Long Beach is the seventh-largest city in California with nearly 460,000 residents. It has its own mayor, city council, police department, airport, and port. While geographically adjacent to LA and part of the LA metro area, Long Beach has a distinct culture and identity. Residents are proud of this distinction.
Retro Row is a stretch of 4th Street in Long Beach known for vintage shops, independent restaurants, coffee houses, and galleries. It is the neighborhood commercial district that defines Long Beach's independent, slightly offbeat character. If you are visiting Long Beach to evaluate whether you want to live there, Retro Row is where you should spend your first afternoon.