Long Beach, CA vs Santa Ana, CA

Long Beach, CA and Santa Ana, CA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.2% difference in their overall index. Long Beach scores 157 while Santa Ana scores 154 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Long Beach is $1,803/month compared to $1,975/month in Santa Ana — a 9% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Long Beach has cheaper rent, Santa Ana actually has lower median home values ($657,800 vs $762,200).

Median household income in Long Beach is $83,969 compared to $88,354 in Santa Ana (-5%). Santa Ana 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, less than the 26.8% in Santa Ana.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (64.9°F vs 64.9°F). Long Beach receives more rainfall at 12" per year compared to 11.2" in Santa Ana.