Living Cost Compare
Long Beach

California

$1,960/mo est.

vs
Reno

Nevada

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Reno, NV. Overall, Reno, NV is roughly 31% 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 $78,448 in Reno, NV — about 7% higher in Long Beach, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,447
$964
+33% in Long Beach, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,206
+26% in Long Beach, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,979
$1,518
+23% in Long Beach, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,360
$1,885
+20% in Long Beach, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$762,200
$498,600
+35% in Long Beach, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$83,969
$78,448
+7% in Long Beach, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$49,660
+11% in Long Beach, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.8 yr
37.3 yr
+0.5 yr in Reno, NV
Homeownership
40.9%
49.4%
+8.5 pp in Reno, NV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.8%
35.7%
+0.9 pp in Reno, NV
Avg Commute
30.0 min
20.6 min
+9.4 min in Long Beach, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
690
528.9
+23% in Long Beach, CA
Property Crime
3,584.4
2,489.3
+31% 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
53.8°F
+10.9°F in Long Beach, CA
Annual Precipitation
12.3 in
7.4 in
+4.9 in in Long Beach, CA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.40/gal
$5.09/gal
+6% in Long Beach, CA

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.3
13.6
+59% in Long Beach, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$12.09
+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 / NV)
7.25%
6.85%
+0.4 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
None
+13.3 pp in CA

Long Beach vs Reno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Long Beach or Reno?
Reno, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% 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 Reno?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $65,000 a year in Long Beach versus $48,000 in Reno.
Which has lower taxes, Long Beach or Reno?
Long Beach is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).