What is the cost of living in Long Beach, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Long Beach has an overall cost of living index of 163, which is 1.6x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Long Beach has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Long Beach ranks as #384 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Long Beach ranks as the #250 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Long Beach, check out:
Long Beach Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Long Beach. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Long Beach is 110.
The Groceries index in Long Beach is 119.
The Health index in Long Beach is 267.
The Housing index in Long Beach is 118.
The Transportation index in Long Beach is 121.
The Utilities index in Long Beach is 124.
| Living Expense | Long Beach | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 163 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 119 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 267 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 121 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 124 | 121 | 100 |
Long Beach Cost Of Living Compared To California Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Long Beach Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Long Beach, CA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in California, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Long Beach is $857,860.
The Median Rent in Long Beach is $1,871.
The Median Income in Long Beach is $87,430.
The Home Value To Income in Long Beach is 9.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Long Beach is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Long Beach | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $857,860 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,871 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $87,430 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.8x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Long Beach, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Long Beach Services costs vs. California
| Item | Long Beach | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.34 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.04 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.11 | $18 |
| Haircut | $27.27 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $41.78 | $45.56 |
Detailed Long Beach Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Long Beach | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.89 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $3.49 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.92 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.92 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $15.31 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.26 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.61 | $3.7 |
Detailed Long Beach Health costs vs. California
| Item | Long Beach | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Long Beach Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Long Beach | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Long Beach Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Long Beach | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Long Beach SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Long Beach
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Long Beach. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Carson, CA has a cost of living index of 156, 1.0x Long Beach.
Lakewood, CA has a cost of living index of 166, 1.0x Long Beach.
Bellflower, CA has a cost of living index of 151, 0.9x Long Beach.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Long Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carson, CA | 92,871 | 156 | 1.0x |
| Lakewood, CA | 79,850 | 166 | 1.0x |
| Bellflower, CA | 76,819 | 151 | 0.9x |
| Placentia, CA | 52,826 | 173 | 1.1x |
| Paramount, CA | 52,050 | 140 | 0.9x |
| Cypress, CA | 49,498 | 178 | 1.1x |
| La Mirada, CA | 47,180 | 167 | 1.0x |
| Seal Beach, CA | 24,722 | 151 | 0.9x |
| West Puente Valley, CA | 22,495 | 148 | 0.9x |
| Artesia, CA | 15,889 | 167 | 1.0x |
