Long Beach vs Oakland: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Long Beach, CA and Oakland, CA, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 462,293 | 437,825 |
| Median household income | $78,995 | $94,389 |
| Median home value | $709,700 | $883,800 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,698 | $1,849 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
Ad slot:
compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Long Beach, CA and Oakland, CA comes down to what you value most. Long Beach has the lower median home value, and Long Beach has the lower median rent.
Oakland has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Long Beach or Oakland?
- By median home value, Long Beach is the cheaper of the two ($709,700 vs $883,800). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Long Beach or Oakland?
- Median household income is $78,995 in Long Beach versus $94,389 in Oakland, per the US Census Bureau.