Long Beach vs Raleigh: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Long Beach, CA and Raleigh, NC, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 462,293 | 465,517 |
| Median household income | $78,995 | $78,631 |
| Median home value | $709,700 | $347,000 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,698 | $1,371 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Long Beach, CA and Raleigh, NC comes down to what you value most. Raleigh has the lower median home value, and Raleigh has the lower median rent.
Long Beach 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 Raleigh?
- By median home value, Raleigh is the cheaper of the two ($347,000 vs $709,700). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Long Beach or Raleigh?
- Median household income is $78,995 in Long Beach versus $78,631 in Raleigh, per the US Census Bureau.