Living Cost Compare
Long Beach

California

$1,970/mo est.

vs
Provo

Utah

$1,120/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 $1,120 in Provo, UT. Overall, Provo, UT is roughly 43% 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 $62,800 in Provo, UT — about 25% higher in Long Beach, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Long Beach, CA
Provo, UT

Rent

Studio
$1,447
$1,009
+30% in Long Beach, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,634
$978
+40% in Long Beach, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,979
$1,128
+43% in Long Beach, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,360
$1,381
+41% in Long Beach, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$762,200
$437,100
+43% in Long Beach, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$83,969
$62,800
+25% in Long Beach, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$48,010
+14% in Long Beach, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.8 yr
23.7 yr
+13.1 yr in Long Beach, CA
Homeownership
40.9%
39.9%
+1.0 pp in Long Beach, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.8%
45.0%
+10.2 pp in Provo, UT
Avg Commute
30.0 min
18.5 min
+11.5 min in Long Beach, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
690
205.7
+70% in Long Beach, CA
Property Crime
3,584.4
1,280.6
+64% 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
53.4°F
+11.3°F in Long Beach, CA
Annual Precipitation
12.3 in
19.8 in
+7.5 in in Provo, UT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.53/gal
$4.27/gal
+23% in Long Beach, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
34.7
13.4
+62% in Long Beach, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.33
$11.84
+42% in Long Beach, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / UT)
7.25%
6.1%
+1.2 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
4.50%
+8.8 pp in CA

Long Beach vs Provo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Long Beach or Provo?
Provo, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 43% 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 Provo?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $65,000 a year in Long Beach versus $39,000 in Provo.
Which has lower taxes, Long Beach or Provo?
Long Beach is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).