Living Cost Compare
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,140/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 $1,140 in Indianapolis, IN versus $1,960 in Long Beach, CA. Overall, Indianapolis, IN is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Long Beach, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN and $83,969 in Long Beach, CA — about 25% higher in Long Beach, CA. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Indianapolis, IN
Long Beach, CA

Rent

Studio
$933
$1,447
+55% in Long Beach, CA
1 Bedroom
$963
$1,634
+70% in Long Beach, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,132
$1,979
+75% in Long Beach, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,304
$2,360
+81% in Long Beach, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$207,000
$762,200
+268% in Long Beach, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$62,995
$83,969
+33% in Long Beach, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,340
$55,850
+13% in Long Beach, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
36.8 yr
+2.7 yr in Long Beach, CA
Homeownership
55.3%
40.9%
+14.4 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.2%
34.8%
+0.6 pp in Long Beach, CA
Avg Commute
24.3 min
30.0 min
+5.7 min in Long Beach, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
936.6
690
+26% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
3,351.7
3,584.4
+7% 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
53.2°F
64.7°F
+11.5°F in Long Beach, CA
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
12.3 in
+30.2 in in Indianapolis, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.35/gal
$5.89/gal
+35% in Long Beach, CA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Los Angeles.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$1.25
+29% in Indianapolis, IN

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.9
33.4
+87% in Long Beach, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$12.49
$20.72
+66% in Long Beach, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.37
+6% in Long Beach, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.79
$2.10
+17% in Long Beach, CA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.25
+38% in Indianapolis, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.97
$7.23
+4% in Long Beach, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.15
$2.14
+1% in Indianapolis, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.63
$0.74
+18% in Long Beach, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / CA)
7%
7.25%
+0.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
13.30%
+10.4 pp in CA

Indianapolis vs Long Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Indianapolis or Long Beach?
Indianapolis, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,140 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Long Beach, CA's $1,960, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Indianapolis than in Long Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Indianapolis versus $65,000 in Long Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Indianapolis or Long Beach?
Indianapolis is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).