Living Cost Compare
Long Beach

California

$1,970/mo est.

vs
Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,970 in Long Beach, CA versus $1,660 in Nashua, NH. Overall, Nashua, NH is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Long Beach, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,969 in Long Beach, CA and $92,457 in Nashua, NH — about 9% higher in Nashua, NH. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,447
$1,127
+22% in Long Beach, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,383
+15% in Long Beach, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,979
$1,699
+14% in Long Beach, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,360
$1,951
+17% in Long Beach, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$762,200
$373,100
+51% in Long Beach, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$83,969
$92,457
+10% in Nashua, NH
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$56,530
+1% in Nashua, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.8 yr
39.7 yr
+2.9 yr in Nashua, NH
Homeownership
40.9%
56.4%
+15.5 pp in Nashua, NH
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.8%
40.5%
+5.7 pp in Nashua, NH
Avg Commute
30.0 min
25.3 min
+4.7 min in Long Beach, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
690
164.9
+76% in Long Beach, CA
Property Crime
3,584.4
1,269
+65% 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
64.7°F
49.2°F
+15.5°F in Long Beach, CA
Annual Precipitation
12.3 in
44.6 in
+32.3 in in Nashua, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.53/gal
$3.94/gal
+29% in Long Beach, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
34.7
27.0
+22% in Long Beach, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.33
$21.67
+7% in Nashua, NH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Long Beach, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.92
+6% in Long Beach, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Long Beach, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.19
+9% in Nashua, NH
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / NH)
7.25%
None
+7.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
None
+13.3 pp in CA

Long Beach vs Nashua — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Long Beach or Nashua?
Nashua, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,660 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Long Beach, CA's $1,970, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Long Beach than in Nashua?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $65,000 a year in Long Beach versus $55,000 in Nashua.
Which has lower taxes, Long Beach or Nashua?
Long Beach is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Nashua under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no 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).