Living Cost Compare
Long Beach

California

$1,960/mo est.

vs
San Antonio

Texas

$1,270/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 $1,270 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, San Antonio, TX is roughly 35% 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 $62,917 in San Antonio, TX — 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; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Long Beach, CA
San Antonio, TX

Rent

Studio
$1,447
$1,052
+27% in Long Beach, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,084
+34% in Long Beach, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,979
$1,327
+33% in Long Beach, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,360
$1,545
+35% in Long Beach, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$762,200
$219,700
+71% in Long Beach, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$83,969
$62,917
+25% in Long Beach, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$47,010
+16% in Long Beach, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.8 yr
34.6 yr
+2.2 yr in Long Beach, CA
Homeownership
40.9%
52.4%
+11.5 pp in San Antonio, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.8%
28.7%
+6.1 pp in Long Beach, CA
Avg Commute
30.0 min
24.6 min
+5.4 min in Long Beach, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
690
605
+12% in Long Beach, CA
Property Crime
3,584.4
4,665
+30% in San Antonio, TX

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
68.5°F
+3.8°F in San Antonio, TX
Annual Precipitation
12.3 in
34.9 in
+22.6 in in San Antonio, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.89/gal
$3.96/gal
+33% in Long Beach, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
$1.30
+4% in San Antonio, TX

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
16.4
+51% in Long Beach, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$24.61
+19% in San Antonio, TX

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 / TX)
7.25%
6.25%
+1.0 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
None
+13.3 pp in CA

Long Beach vs San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Long Beach or San Antonio?
San Antonio, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% 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 San Antonio?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $65,000 a year in Long Beach versus $43,000 in San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, Long Beach or San Antonio?
Long Beach is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); San Antonio under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).