Living Cost Compare
Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/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 $1,320 in Las Vegas, NV versus $1,960 in Long Beach, CA. Overall, Las Vegas, NV is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Long Beach, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,723 in Las Vegas, NV and $83,969 in Long Beach, CA — about 16% higher in Long Beach, CA. Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$992
$1,447
+46% in Long Beach, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,181
$1,634
+38% in Long Beach, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,401
$1,979
+41% in Long Beach, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,740
$2,360
+36% in Long Beach, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$395,300
$762,200
+93% in Long Beach, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$70,723
$83,969
+19% in Long Beach, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,670
$55,850
+20% in Long Beach, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.5 yr
36.8 yr
+1.7 yr in Las Vegas, NV
Homeownership
55.7%
40.9%
+14.8 pp in Las Vegas, NV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.3%
34.8%
+7.5 pp in Long Beach, CA
Avg Commute
25.8 min
30.0 min
+4.2 min in Long Beach, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
433.1
690
+59% in Long Beach, CA
Property Crime
2,641.7
3,584.4
+36% 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
68.4°F
64.7°F
+3.7°F in Las Vegas, NV
Annual Precipitation
5.4 in
12.3 in
+6.9 in in Long Beach, CA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.57/gal
$5.89/gal
+6% in Long Beach, CA

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Los Angeles.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$1.25
+38% in Las Vegas, NV

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
33.4
+135% in Long Beach, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.04
$20.72
+106% in Long Beach, CA

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 (NV / CA)
6.85%
7.25%
+0.4 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
None
13.30%
+13.3 pp in CA

Las Vegas vs Long Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Las Vegas or Long Beach?
Las Vegas, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Long Beach, CA's $1,960, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Las Vegas 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 Las Vegas versus $65,000 in Long Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Las Vegas or Long Beach?
Las Vegas is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).