Cost of Living in Long Beach, CA 2022

Located just 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles is Long Beach, the sixth-largest city in California. While it may be a popular shipping port, Long Beach is also a famous Southern California city to live in. With a diverse culture, friendly neighbors, and a small-town feel, it can be hard to remember you’re living in a Los Angeles County city when you’re in Long Beach.

Appropriately nicknamed The Beach, Long Beach is a beautiful coastal city with incredible views of the port, harbor, and the Pacific Ocean. But Long Beach has so much more to offer than its spectacular views, including an abundance of indoor and outdoor activities, exciting nightlife, and robust dining and shopping scenes.

No matter why you choose to move to Long Beach, whether it be for the vibrant city life or the swoon-worthy West Coast weather, you’ll want to get a good idea of what your costs will look like. So let’s look at the cost of living in Long Beach to understand better how much you need to live there.

Long Beach Housing Costs

In the winter months, rental trends slow down with things moving back into gear as the weather warms up again in the spring, peaking in the summer. According to the latest rent report on Long Beach, the city is in line with national trend rent prices. They have slightly increased over the past month as we move towards warmer weather.

The median rent index is currently $1,597 for a one-bedroom apartment and $1,019 for a two-bedroom in Long Beach. Rent prices have seen a steady increase of 0.9% in the last month. However, the rent prices for a one-bedroom are still 13.2% higher year-over-year, which falls below the national average for year-over-year growth at 16.3% and just slightly above the state average of 15.9%.

Over the last year, various Southern California cities saw significant rent increases, many significantly greater than Long Beach. Some of the most popular cities, including their year-over-year growth, across the state, include Santa Ana (+22.5%), Pomona (+20.6%), and Irvine (+21.9%). The median rent index for a two-bedroom apartment in these cities is $2,301, $2,076, and $3,529 respectively.

The Long Beach housing market has seen steady, significant growth, with median home prices at $785,000. Compared to other major cities across the state, these prices are reasonable, especially when you consider the median price index of Santa Ana is at $719.5k, Pomona is at $620k, and Irvine is now at $1.4 million.

Long Beach Transportation

While most people in Los Angeles County have personal vehicles, Long Beach has a reliable public transportation system of its own. Currently, there are two primary options servicing Long Beach.

Los Angeles County’s Metro runs through downtown Long Beach from 7th Street in Downtown Los Angeles. Long Beach’s Long Beach Transit offers public transportation throughout Cal State Long Beach, Alamitos Bay, and Belmont Shore for $1.25 fare each way. In the summer months, residents can take advantage of the Aqualink water taxis serving Alamitos Bay Landing and the Queen Mary.

To get around Long Beach and enjoy the city and state to its fullest, you might want to have a vehicle of your own. You’ll probably want to have a car to get around and see all of the sights if you plan to make the most out of living in Long Beach.

You'll spend about $4,938 for transportation living in Los Angeles county annually if you're a single adult without children. However, you will pay $13,456 for transportation annually if you are a family of four, including two working adults and two children. Just don’t forget that gasoline prices in Long Beach are around $4.89 per gallon, just slightly below the national average of $3.71.

Long Beach Food Costs

Long Beach is a hub for great eating and drinking, offering countless dining options across countless cuisines. Some of the iconic Long Beach dishes you must try include the lamb chops from George’s Greek Cafe, the garlic cheese bread burger from Parkers’ Lighthouse, and the famous brussel sprouts from Bo Beau Kitchen + Rooftop.

Bear in mind that there are costs associated with eating out in Long Beach, and expect to pay around $15.00 per person for a meal at an inexpensive restaurant.

Expect to pay at least $3,999 on food per year as a single adult without children, or around $11,764 per year for food if you have a family of two working adults and two children.

You can anticipate paying just above national averages for food items from local grocery stores like Stater Bros. Market, Whole Foods Market, or Food 4 Less. For example, one gallon of regular milk costs $3.94 in the grocery store, while the national average is $3.36.

Long Beach Healthcare Costs

When planning your budget in Long Beach, account for proper medical care. A single adult without children will pay around $2,288 for medical care annually while working adults with two children will pay $7,559. In addition, childcare for this family will cost $30,666.72 per year.

Long Beach Utilities

Take advantage of the incredible year-round Southern California weather when moving to Long Beach.

Summers in Long Beach are clear, arid, short, and warm, and August is the hottest month with an average daytime high of 82°F. Winters in Long Beach are partly cloudy, cool, and long. The coldest days of the year fall in December, with an average overnight temperature rarely dropping below 49°F.

Since the winters and summers are relatively mild, you can save a bit on your monthly heating and cooling bills. Still, Los Angeles County prices are higher. Long Beach’s basic utilities include electricity, heating, cooling, water, and garbage, running $​​132.21 for a 915-sq. ft. apartment.

Adding on the Internet with 60 Mbps or more with unlimited data, cable/ADSL will cost you an extra $59.87 for a total of $192.08 each month. Know what to expect and budget accordingly before you move. You can get a better idea of how much utilities will cost in an apartment for starters.

Long Beach Fitness and Entertainment

You may still opt for a fitness club membership out of personal preference, even though the weather year-round in Long Beach is pretty pleasant. If you choose this route, keep in mind there will be costs associated with keeping fit throughout the year. The fee for a fitness club membership for one adult is steep in Long Beach, averaging around $36.91 per month.

You should enjoy the beautiful landscape of Southern California’s great outdoors, as weather permits most of the year. Hike some of the city’s most popular trails, including Dominguez Gap Wetlands, Signal Hill Trail, and El Dorado Nature Center.

Long Beach’s other great outdoor activities include strolling along the Long Beach Waterfront, joining the pups at Rosie’s Dog Beach, or taking a dip at Mother’s Beach.

Of course, you can also enjoy the indoors with plenty of entertainment options throughout the city. Some favorite local activities include the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Queen Mary, and the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center. Just be sure you account for these additional expenses in your budget.

Other Expenses to Consider in Long Beach

It comes at a cost to choose to live on the wildly popular west coast region of the U.S. Anyone new to the state should know that California has some of the highest taxes in the country. Both sales and income tax rates are high, but the good news for anyone looking to purchase is that property sales taxes rates are below average.

In Long Beach, the total sales tax is a whopping 10.25%. Beyond that, the state charges a 6.0% sales tax rate, Los Angeles County imposes an additional 2.0% sales tax, and Long Beach City charges an extra 1.0% on top of that in sales taxes.

Consider costs associated with transportation, hotels, storage, and cross-country movers if you’re moving out of state to Long Beach. Pet deposits, security deposits, and application fees are just a few examples of other additional fees that sneak up on you with these types of moves.

Furnishing your home is another cost you shouldn’t overlook during the planning process of your big move to Long Beach. To help you save some money, get some tips for decorating your apartment on a budget.

What Salary Do I Need to Live in Long Beach?

Your recommended salary in Long Beach depends entirely on the type of lifestyle you plan to lead. The living wage in Los Angeles-Long Beach County is $21.61 per hour, which is the basic wage needed to pay for essentials like housing, food, and necessities. Don’t forget to account for extra costs like dining and entertainment, as they are not a part of the living wage when calculating your budget.

The median household income in Long Beach is $66,410 per year, roughly $32 per hour.

You can also consider the 30% rule for rent to determine your ideal salary in Long Beach. When you follow this rule, you shouldn’t spend more than one-third, or 30%, of your gross income on rent.

An example of the 30% rule would be looking for a one-bedroom apartment in Long Beach with an average rent price of $1,597. You can use the 30% rule to determine your minimum gross income by using the following formula:

10/3 x rent price

Based on this rule, your gross income should be about $5,281.67 per month or about $63,380 annually.

The living wage, average salary, and recommended salary are three different tools you can use for budgeting. But remember that other additional living costs, such as dining and entertainment, are not included. You will need to adjust your apartment search for less expensive rent, a higher salary, or possibly, both once you add in these costs.

Thankfully, the typical annual salaries for common professions in Long Beach are highly competitive. For example, the three highest typical annual salaries belong to Management, Legal, and Computer and Mathematical, respectively.

Job Market in Long Beach

Even though the cost of living is slightly above the national average in Los Angeles County, the good news for anyone looking to call Long Beach home is the strong job market.

More good news for anyone interested in Long Beach is that the median household income average annual salary throughout Los Angeles is above the national average of $64,994, currently at $71,358 for the county. Unfortunately, you’ll find the unemployment rate in the county falls presently above the national average of 3.6%, currently at 5.8%.

Long Beach is no different from Los Angeles County, notorious for constantly shifting demographics. Because of this, the economy throughout the area can be challenging to narrow down to just a few. You’ll find countless jobs in fashion and design, entertainment, museum, and theater since, above all, Long Beach is known for being a creative economy.

Final Thoughts

If you are interested in moving to Long Beach, a city filled with urban energy and friendly neighbors, then you’ll need to determine which Long Beach neighborhood is best for you and learn how to apartment hunt. Then, register with Apartment List today and start checking out the hundreds of available apartments to rent in Long Beach!

FAQs: Cost of Living in Long Beach

How expensive is an apartment in Long Beach?

Living in Long Beach is cheaper than many areas in the Los Angeles metro area. A one-bedroom apartment in Long Beach costs $1,459 per month. The average for a two-bedroom apartment in Long Beach costs $1,854 per month.

What is the cheapest rent in Long Beach?

A one-bedroom apartment in Long Beach is the cheapest apartment to rent. The average for a one-bedroom apartment in Long Beach costs $1,459 per month.

How expensive is it to live in Long Beach?

A one-bedroom apartment in Long Beach averages $1,459 per month. a Two bedroom apartment in Long Beach costs $1,854. A single adult in Long Beach will spend at least $4,686 per year on food. For a family of four with two working adults and two children, that figure rises to $13,802. Each year, an adult spends an average of $5,316 on transportation in Long Beach each year. For a family of four with two working adults and two children, that number rises to $14,058.

How far is Long Beach from Los Angeles?

Long Beach is 24.0 miles to Los Angeles via I-710 N. Depending on what time of day you leave, it takes about 32 minutes to drive from Los Angeles to Long Beach.

Is Long Beach cheaper than Los Angeles?

Yes, living in Long Beach is cheaper than Los Angeles. A one-bedroom apartment in Long Beach averages $1,597 per month. A two-bedroom apartment in Long Beach averages $2,209.

A one-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles is $,762. The average for a two-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles costs $2,132.

What is the population of Long Beach?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of Long Beach was 456,062. The population of the entire state of California is 39,142,991.

What is a good salary in Long Beach?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income in Long Beach is $71,150.

We recommended the 30% rule, which states you should spend 30% or less of your take home pay on rent. If a one-bedroom apartment in Long Beach, CA costs $1,459, your annual salary should be around $58,360. If a two-bedroom apartment costs $1,854 in Long Beach, you should earn at least $74,160 annually.