Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Long Beach?

Arlington, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,370 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Long Beach, CA's $1,960, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Long Beach?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $65,000 in Long Beach.

Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Long Beach?

Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Long Beach under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax).

Arlington vs Long Beach Cost of Living 2026

Arlington

Texas

$1,370/mo est.

Long Beach

California

$1,960/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,370 in Arlington, TX versus $1,960 in Long Beach, CA. Overall, Arlington, TX is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Long Beach, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $83,969 in Long Beach, CA — about 12% higher in Long Beach, CA. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Arlington, TX

Long Beach, CA

Rent

Studio

$1,088

$1,447

+33% in Long Beach, CA

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$1,634

+38% in Long Beach, CA

2 Bedroom

$1,410

$1,979

+40% in Long Beach, CA

3 Bedroom

$1,819

$2,360

+30% in Long Beach, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$276,400

$762,200

+176% in Long Beach, CA

Income

Median Household Income

$73,519

$83,969

+14% in Long Beach, CA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$55,850

+9% in Long Beach, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.6 yr

36.8 yr

+3.2 yr in Long Beach, CA

Homeownership

54.8%

40.9%

+13.9 pp in Arlington, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.1%

34.8%

+1.7 pp in Long Beach, CA

Avg Commute

26.7 min

30.0 min

+3.3 min in Long Beach, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

492.4

690

+40% in Long Beach, CA

Property Crime

2,433.5

3,584.4

+47% 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

65.4°F

64.7°F

+0.7°F in Arlington, TX

Annual Precipitation

39.6 in

12.3 in

+27.3 in in Arlington, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.96/gal

$5.89/gal

+49% in Long Beach, CA

Area: Texas vs Los Angeles.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

N/A

$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs Long Beach Transit (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

33.4

+103% in Long Beach, CA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.61

$20.72

+16% in Arlington, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

$4.37

+5% in Long Beach, CA

Bread (lb)

$1.73

$2.10

+21% in Long Beach, CA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.25

+3% in Long Beach, CA

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

$7.23

+10% in Long Beach, CA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.14

+12% in Long Beach, CA

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

$0.74

+21% in Long Beach, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / CA)

6.25%

7.25%

+1.0 pp in CA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

13.30%

+13.3 pp in CA

Arlington vs Long Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Long Beach?: Arlington, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,370 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Long Beach, CA's $1,960, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Long Beach?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $65,000 in Long Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Long Beach?: Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Long Beach under California's (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).