Long Beach, CA vs Sacramento, CA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Sacramento is 21.7% cheaper than Long Beach. With a cost index of 129 vs 157, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Sacramento to Long Beach should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Long Beach is $1,803/month compared to $1,694/month in Sacramento — a 6% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Sacramento is more affordable at $484,600 median vs $762,200.

Median household income in Long Beach is $83,969 compared to $83,753 in Sacramento (+0.3%). Long Beach does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Long Beach spend roughly 25.8% of their income on rent, more than the 24.3% in Sacramento.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (64.9°F vs 63.4°F). Sacramento receives more rainfall at 19.2" per year compared to 12" in Long Beach.