Living Cost Compare
Green Bay

Wisconsin

$920/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 $920 in Green Bay, WI versus $1,960 in Long Beach, CA. Overall, Green Bay, WI is roughly 53% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Long Beach, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,546 in Green Bay, WI and $83,969 in Long Beach, CA — about 26% higher in Long Beach, CA. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$707
$1,447
+105% in Long Beach, CA
1 Bedroom
$730
$1,634
+124% in Long Beach, CA
2 Bedroom
$956
$1,979
+107% in Long Beach, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,287
$2,360
+83% in Long Beach, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$191,500
$762,200
+298% in Long Beach, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$62,546
$83,969
+34% in Long Beach, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,940
$55,850
+12% in Long Beach, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
36.8 yr
+1.1 yr in Long Beach, CA
Homeownership
55.9%
40.9%
+15.0 pp in Green Bay, WI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.5%
34.8%
+9.3 pp in Long Beach, CA
Avg Commute
18.9 min
30.0 min
+11.1 min in Long Beach, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
501.7
690
+38% in Long Beach, CA
Property Crime
1,331.2
3,584.4
+169% 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
44.3°F
64.7°F
+20.4°F in Long Beach, CA
Annual Precipitation
29.5 in
12.3 in
+17.3 in in Green Bay, WI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$5.40/gal
+37% in Long Beach, CA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Los Angeles.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.7
33.3
+68% in Long Beach, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.79
$20.72
+76% in Long Beach, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Long Beach, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Long Beach, CA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Green Bay, WI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Long Beach, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Green Bay, WI
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Long Beach, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WI / CA)
5%
7.25%
+2.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
7.65%
13.30%
+5.7 pp in CA

Green Bay vs Long Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Green Bay or Long Beach?
Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 53% below Long Beach, CA's $1,960, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Green Bay than in Long Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Green Bay versus $65,000 in Long Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Green Bay or Long Beach?
Green Bay is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).