Living Cost Compare
Long Beach

California

$1,960/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,130/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 $2,130 in Washington, DC. Overall, Long Beach, CA is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,969 in Long Beach, CA and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 21% higher in Washington, DC. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Long Beach, CA
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$1,447
$1,763
+22% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,885
+15% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,979
$1,949
+2% in Long Beach, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,360
$2,249
+5% in Long Beach, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$762,200
$724,600
+5% in Long Beach, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$83,969
$106,287
+27% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$71,060
+27% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.8 yr
34.9 yr
+1.9 yr in Long Beach, CA
Homeownership
40.9%
41.1%
+0.2 pp in Washington, DC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.8%
63.6%
+28.8 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
30.0 min
30.3 min
+0.3 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
690
936
+36% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
3,584.4
3,627.1
+1% in Washington, DC

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
58.2°F
+6.5°F in Long Beach, CA
Annual Precipitation
12.3 in
39.7 in
+27.5 in in Washington, DC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.89/gal
$4.30/gal
+27% in Long Beach, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
$2.00
+60% in Washington, DC

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
25.0
+25% in Long Beach, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$18.01
+13% in Long Beach, CA

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 / DC)
7.25%
6%
+1.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
10.75%
+2.6 pp in CA

Long Beach vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Long Beach or Washington?
Long Beach, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Washington, DC's $2,130, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Long Beach than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $65,000 a year in Long Beach versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Long Beach or Washington?
Long Beach is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 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).