Living Cost Compare
Long Beach

California

$1,960/mo est.

vs
Phoenix

Arizona

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Phoenix, AZ. Overall, Phoenix, AZ is roughly 27% 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 $77,041 in Phoenix, AZ — about 8% higher in Long Beach, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Long Beach, CA
Phoenix, AZ

Rent

Studio
$1,447
$1,127
+22% in Long Beach, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,253
+23% in Long Beach, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,979
$1,493
+25% in Long Beach, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,360
$1,771
+25% in Long Beach, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$762,200
$381,900
+50% in Long Beach, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$83,969
$77,041
+8% in Long Beach, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$51,380
+8% in Long Beach, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.8 yr
34.8 yr
+2.0 yr in Long Beach, CA
Homeownership
40.9%
57.1%
+16.2 pp in Phoenix, AZ
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.8%
32.3%
+2.5 pp in Long Beach, CA
Avg Commute
30.0 min
25.7 min
+4.3 min in Long Beach, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
690
799.6
+16% in Phoenix, AZ
Property Crime
3,584.4
2,338.9
+35% 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
75.1°F
+10.4°F in Phoenix, AZ
Annual Precipitation
12.3 in
8.2 in
+4.1 in in Long Beach, CA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.89/gal
$5.57/gal
+5% in Long Beach, CA

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
$2.00
+60% in Phoenix, AZ

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
15.6
+53% in Long Beach, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$19.69
+5% 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 (CA / AZ)
7.25%
5.6%
+1.7 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
2.50%
+10.8 pp in CA

Long Beach vs Phoenix — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Long Beach or Phoenix?
Phoenix, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% 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 Phoenix?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $65,000 a year in Long Beach versus $50,000 in Phoenix.
Which has lower taxes, Long Beach or Phoenix?
Long Beach is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Phoenix under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).