Living Cost Compare
Long Beach

California

$1,960/mo est.

vs
Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,960 in Long Beach, CA versus $1,030 in Oklahoma City, OK. Overall, Oklahoma City, OK is roughly 47% 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 $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK — about 21% higher in Long Beach, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,447
$795
+45% in Long Beach, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,634
$882
+46% in Long Beach, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,979
$1,085
+45% in Long Beach, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,360
$1,356
+43% in Long Beach, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$762,200
$215,100
+72% in Long Beach, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$83,969
$66,702
+21% in Long Beach, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$47,230
+15% in Long Beach, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.8 yr
35.0 yr
+1.8 yr in Long Beach, CA
Homeownership
40.9%
59.1%
+18.2 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.8%
34.0%
+0.8 pp in Long Beach, CA
Avg Commute
30.0 min
22.2 min
+7.8 min in Long Beach, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
690
685.6
+1% in Long Beach, CA
Property Crime
3,584.4
2,928.9
+18% 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
61.5°F
+3.2°F in Long Beach, CA
Annual Precipitation
12.3 in
36.5 in
+24.3 in in Oklahoma City, OK

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.89/gal
$4.35/gal
+26% in Long Beach, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
$1.75
+40% in Oklahoma City, OK

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
13.6
+59% in Long Beach, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$15.95
+23% in Long Beach, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.16
+5% in Long Beach, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.73
+18% in Long Beach, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.19
+3% in Long Beach, CA
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.56
+9% in Long Beach, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$1.90
+11% in Long Beach, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.61
+17% in Long Beach, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / OK)
7.25%
4.5%
+2.8 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
4.50%
+8.8 pp in CA

Long Beach vs Oklahoma City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Long Beach or Oklahoma City?
Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 47% below Long Beach, CA's $1,960, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Long Beach than in Oklahoma City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $65,000 a year in Long Beach versus $35,000 in Oklahoma City.
Which has lower taxes, Long Beach or Oklahoma City?
Long Beach is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Oklahoma City under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).