Long Beach, CA vs Riverside, CA

Riverside is moderately more affordable than Long Beach, with a 14.9% lower cost of living index. Long Beach scores 157 compared to 137 for Riverside, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Long Beach can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Long Beach is $1,803/month compared to $1,812/month in Riverside — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Long Beach has cheaper rent, Riverside actually has lower median home values ($542,100 vs $762,200).

Median household income in Long Beach is $83,969 compared to $88,575 in Riverside (-5.2%). Riverside offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Long Beach spend roughly 25.8% of their income on rent, more than the 24.5% in Riverside.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (64.9°F vs 66.2°F). Long Beach receives more rainfall at 12" per year compared to 9.4" in Riverside.