Living Cost Compare
Anaheim

California

$2,090/mo est.

vs
Long Beach

California

$1,960/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,090 in Anaheim, CA versus $1,960 in Long Beach, CA. Overall, Long Beach, CA is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anaheim, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,583 in Anaheim, CA and $83,969 in Long Beach, CA — about 7% higher in Anaheim, CA. Both cities are in California, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,929
$1,447
+25% in Anaheim, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,764
$1,634
+7% in Anaheim, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,171
$1,979
+9% in Anaheim, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,653
$2,360
+11% in Anaheim, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$771,700
$762,200
+1% in Anaheim, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$90,583
$83,969
+7% in Anaheim, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$55,850
about equal

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
36.8 yr
+0.9 yr in Long Beach, CA
Homeownership
45.9%
40.9%
+5.0 pp in Anaheim, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.8%
34.8%
+6.0 pp in Long Beach, CA
Avg Commute
28.2 min
30.0 min
+1.8 min in Long Beach, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
597.4
690
+16% in Long Beach, CA
Property Crime
2,234.6
3,584.4
+60% in Long Beach, CA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
67.1°F
64.7°F
+2.4°F in Anaheim, CA
Annual Precipitation
13.4 in
12.3 in
+1.2 in in Anaheim, CA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.89/gal
$5.89/gal
about equal

Area: Los Angeles vs Los Angeles.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$1.25
+38% in Anaheim, CA

Adult base one-way fare — OCTA vs Long Beach Transit (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
33.4
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$20.72
about equal

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.37
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.25
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$7.23
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.14
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.74
about equal

Average prices — West vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / CA)
7.25%
7.25%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
13.30%
about equal

Anaheim vs Long Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anaheim or Long Beach?
Long Beach, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Anaheim, CA's $2,090, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anaheim than in Long Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $71,000 a year in Anaheim versus $65,000 in Long Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Anaheim or Long Beach?
Neither — both are in California, so they share the same state tax rates: a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).