Long Beach, CA vs San Francisco, CA

The cost of living difference between Long Beach, CA and San Francisco, CA is dramatic. Long Beach is 30.9% cheaper than San Francisco, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Long Beach has a cost index of 157 while San Francisco sits at 228, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Long Beach is $1,803/month compared to $2,419/month in San Francisco — a 26% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Long Beach is more affordable at $762,200 median vs $1,380,500.

Median household income in Long Beach is $83,969 compared to $141,446 in San Francisco (-40.6%). While San Francisco is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Long Beach spend roughly 25.8% of their income on rent, more than the 20.5% in San Francisco.

Climate-wise, Long Beach is notably warmer with an average of 64.9°F compared to 57.7°F in San Francisco. San Francisco receives more rainfall at 22.9" per year compared to 12" in Long Beach.