Long Beach, CA Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Long Beach, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Long Beach →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Long Beach's population is about 462,293. On income, the typical household clears $78,995 a year, running roughly in line with the median household income across the cities we cover (+10%).
Expect a median home value of $709,700 in Long Beach, which runs above what we see across other cities (+117%). Median rent lands at $1,698/month — a useful baseline before comparing mortgage payments to rent.
At roughly 9.0 times median income, Long Beach's home values rank among the more stretched we track — buying here takes a larger share of local pay. The local market has seen 1.7% price growth over the past year — solid, sustainable movement rather than a rapid runup. FEMA's National Risk Index puts Long Beach at Very High for overall natural-hazard risk, a factor that can push home insurance costs up.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,698/mo in Long Beach would take 25.8% of your income.
$277/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($709,700) would take 57.6% of your income toward principal & interest.
$1,946/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Long Beach
Median home value is $709,700 and median gross rent is $1,698/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Los Angeles rose 1.7% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $2,601/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Long Beach's overall natural-hazard risk as Very High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Long Beach reported a violent crime rate of 620.8 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Long Beach
Planning a move to Long Beach? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Long Beach, CA?
- Housing drives most of the cost-of-living picture in Long Beach — median home value of $709,700, median rent of $1,698/month — set against a median household income of $78,995 (US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022)).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Long Beach?
- At Long Beach's median rent of $1,698/month, the 30%-of-income guideline suggests an annual income around $67,920 to stay comfortably housed. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Long Beach.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Long Beach?
- Comparing the two in Long Beach: renting at the median $1,698/month needs about $67,920 in annual income (30% guideline), while buying the $709,700 median home needs roughly $162,376 a year in principal-and-interest, assuming 20% down and a 30-year fixed loan at current rates.
- Is Long Beach safe?
- The most recent FBI figures (2025) show a violent crime rate of 620.8 per 100,000 residents in Long Beach.
See the full salary breakdown for Long Beach →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Long Beach's.