Is it cheaper to live in Long Beach or Portland?

Portland, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,600 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% 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 Portland?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $65,000 a year in Long Beach versus $58,000 in Portland.

Which has lower taxes, Long Beach or Portland?

Long Beach is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Long Beach vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Long Beach

California

$1,960/mo est.

Portland

Oregon

$1,600/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 $1,600 in Portland, OR. Overall, Portland, OR is roughly 18% 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 $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 5% higher in Portland, OR. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Long Beach, CA

Portland, OR

Rent

Studio

$1,447

$1,294

+11% in Long Beach, CA

1 Bedroom

$1,634

$1,440

+12% in Long Beach, CA

2 Bedroom

$1,979

$1,741

+12% in Long Beach, CA

3 Bedroom

$2,360

$2,053

+13% in Long Beach, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$762,200

$557,600

+27% in Long Beach, CA

Income

Median Household Income

$83,969

$88,792

+6% in Portland, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$55,850

$60,690

+9% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.8 yr

38.6 yr

+1.8 yr in Portland, OR

Homeownership

40.9%

52.8%

+11.9 pp in Portland, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

34.8%

53.5%

+18.7 pp in Portland, OR

Avg Commute

30.0 min

24.6 min

+5.4 min in Long Beach, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

690

731.7

+6% in Portland, OR

Property Crime

3,584.4

5,605.5

+56% in Portland, OR

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

54.5°F

+10.2°F in Long Beach, CA

Annual Precipitation

12.3 in

42.9 in

+30.6 in in Portland, OR

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

$2.80

+124% in Portland, OR

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

33.4

14.9

+55% in Long Beach, CA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.72

$17.98

+13% in Long Beach, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.10

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / OR)

7.25%

None

+7.3 pp in CA

Income Tax (top rate)

13.30%

9.90%

+3.4 pp in CA

Long Beach vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Long Beach or Portland?: Portland, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,600 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% 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 Portland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $65,000 a year in Long Beach versus $58,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Long Beach or Portland?: Long Beach is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% 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).