How expensive is Long Beach?
Long Beach costs about the same as Los Angeles County overall and less than most of the coast. MIT's Living Wage Calculator puts the pre-tax income one adult with no children needs in Los Angeles County at $60,161 a year (update of February 15, 2026). A household of two working adults with two children needs $140,735. MIT does not publish a separate Long Beach figure, so the county budget is the closest official yardstick.
Housing is where Long Beach stands out. Zillow's typical home value was $852,391 in September 2026, below the county's beach cities, and Zillow's typical asking rent was $2,412 a month. Yet the Census median household income in Long Beach, $87,430 (ACS 2020-2024), is lower than the county's $90,112, and 59% of households rent. That mix means many residents spend a large share of income on housing even though prices are moderate for the coast.
Prices have climbed steadily. Zillow's typical value has risen 84.3% in ten years, from about $462,500 in September 2016, and 16.4% in five years. Typical rent rose 57.7% over the same ten years, from about $1,530 to $2,412.
Housing costs in Long Beach
Buying a home in Long Beach
Redfin's median sale price in Long Beach was $909,567 over the three months to September 2026, up 9.3% on a year, on 653 sales. With 20% down at Freddie Mac's 7.24% average rate (week of October 29, 2026), that home costs about $4,959 a month in principal and interest. The range across the city is wide: Redfin's median for all homes ran from $533,843 in downtown 90802 to $1,364,599 in Belmont Shore's 90803. Most Long Beach owners pay far less than a new buyer. The Census median monthly cost for owners with a mortgage was $2,984 (ACS 2020-2024), because most bought years ago.
Renting in Long Beach
Zillow's typical asking rent was $2,412 a month in September 2026, up 2.4% on a year and at its highest level on record. The Census median gross rent, which includes utilities and long-running leases, was $1,871 (ACS 2020-2024). MIT budgets $22,471 a year for a single adult's housing in Los Angeles County, about $1,873 a month, which matches older leases better than today's asking rents. Long Beach has a large stock of apartments: 40% of its homes are in buildings of five or more units.
Property tax in Long Beach
The 2026-27 rate for Long Beach tax rate area 4998 is 1.259025%: the 1% Prop 13 base plus voter-approved debt for Long Beach Unified, Long Beach City College and the Metropolitan Water District. On the $909,567 Redfin median that is about $11,450 a year, or $954 a month, before any direct assessments on the bill. The $7,000 homeowners' exemption saves about $88 a year. Rates differ slightly by tax rate area, so check the actual bill. See our Los Angeles County property tax guide.
Homeowners insurance in Long Beach
Long Beach is mostly flat and urban, so wildfire is a smaller driver of premiums than in the hills. The costs to watch are earthquake cover, since the city sits on the Newport-Inglewood fault, and flood cover for homes near Alamitos Bay, the Peninsula and the lower Los Angeles River. Get quotes before you make an offer. Our homeowners insurance guide and earthquake insurance guide explain the options.
HOA dues in Long Beach
Condo and townhome dues vary widely with what they include. Some Long Beach buildings fold electricity, gas, water and cable into the dues, while others cover only the common areas. Compare dues net of utilities, and ask for the reserve study. Our Long Beach condo guide lists examples by building. Mello-Roos special taxes are uncommon in a city built out decades ago, but check the tax bill for direct assessments.
Everyday costs in Long Beach
MIT's Los Angeles County budget gives the most consistent breakdown of costs other than housing. Figures are annual, from the February 15, 2026 update.
| Cost (per year) | 1 adult | 1 adult, 1 child | 2 working adults, 2 children |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $22,471 | $31,372 | $31,372 |
| Food | $4,463 | $6,547 | $13,062 |
| Child care | $0 | $13,191 | $26,634 |
| Medical | $3,255 | $9,912 | $11,179 |
| Transportation | $8,681 | $10,046 | $14,561 |
| Internet and mobile | $1,517 | $1,517 | $2,140 |
| Civic | $3,876 | $6,543 | $9,827 |
| Other | $4,992 | $9,077 | $10,804 |
Utilities in Long Beach
Long Beach is one of the few California cities that runs its own gas utility. Long Beach Utilities, a city department, supplies water, natural gas and sewer service to nearly 500,000 residents and businesses, including gas in Signal Hill. Electricity comes from Southern California Edison. Ask the seller or landlord for twelve months of both bills. Homes near the coast rarely need much air conditioning, but older inland houses in North Long Beach and Bixby Knolls can run high summer bills.
Groceries in Long Beach
MIT budgets $4,463 a year for one adult's food in the county, about $372 a month, and $13,062 for a family of four. MIT does not break food costs down below the county, so treat the figure as a county average.
Transportation in Long Beach
MIT puts a single adult's transport cost at $8,681 a year, mostly car ownership. Long Beach gives more options than most of the county: Long Beach Transit runs bus routes across the city and into Lakewood and Signal Hill, the Metro A Line light rail runs from downtown Long Beach to downtown Los Angeles and Pasadena, and Long Beach Airport has domestic flights. The average one-way commute for Long Beach workers was about 30 minutes (ACS 2020-2024).
Healthcare and child care in Long Beach
MIT's medical budget is $3,255 a year for a single adult and $11,179 for a family of four, covering premiums and out-of-pocket costs. Child care is the biggest cost for families with young children: $13,191 a year for one child and $26,634 for two in the county budget. Check licensed providers through the California Department of Social Services' child care search.
Internet in Long Beach
Wired broadband is widely available across the city. Enter the address on the FCC National Broadband Map to see which providers serve it and at what speeds before you sign a lease or make an offer.
Taxes in Long Beach
Long Beach's sales tax rate is 11% from October 1, 2026, above the City of Los Angeles and many other cities, according to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. That is the 7.25% statewide base plus Los Angeles County and city district taxes. The City of Los Angeles is 10.25% and Torrance 10.75% on the same date, so large purchases cost a little more in Long Beach. California's personal income tax runs from 1% to 12.3%, plus 1% on income above $1 million, and there is no city income tax. Buyers pay Los Angeles County's documentary transfer tax of $1.10 per $1,000; see our California transfer tax guide.
Salary needed to live in Long Beach
MIT's required incomes for Los Angeles County, before tax, assuming a renter household:
| Household | Income needed (pre-tax) | Of which taxes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 adult, no children | $60,161 | $10,906 |
| 1 adult, 1 child | $104,483 | $16,276 |
| 2 adults (1 working), no children | $79,296 | $11,447 |
| 2 adults (both working), 2 children | $140,735 | $21,155 |
Buying takes far more. Principal, interest and property tax on the $909,567 Redfin median come to about $5,913 a month. Under the common guideline of 28% of gross income for housing, that points to about $253,000 a year, before insurance. A downtown condo at the 90802 median of $526,984 brings the figure down to about $147,000, before dues.
Long Beach cost of living vs nearby cities
Sale prices are Redfin's median for the three months to September 2026 (the county row is the month of September 2026). Rent, owner costs and income are Census ACS 2020-2024 medians.
| Place | Median sale price | Median gross rent | Owner costs with mortgage | Household income | Sales tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Beach | $909,567 | $1,871 | $2,984 | $87,430 | 11% |
| Lakewood | $893,574 | $2,347 | $2,951 | $119,177 | 11% |
| Signal Hill | $607,211 | $1,851 | $3,263 | $113,298 | 11% |
| Carson | $790,623 | $1,956 | $2,649 | $108,703 | 11% |
| Downey | $874,584 | $1,937 | $2,890 | $90,699 | 11% |
| Torrance | $1,174,441 | $2,280 | $3,656 | $116,217 | 10.75% |
| City of Los Angeles | $1,032,508 | $1,933 | $3,497 | $81,939 | 10.25% |
| Los Angeles County | $912,957 | $1,954 | $3,160 | $90,112 | varies |
Long Beach prices sit close to Lakewood, Downey and the county median, well below Torrance and the City of Los Angeles. Signal Hill's lower median reflects its mix: in its ZIP, 90755, 19 of 29 sales in the period were condos. Long Beach has the lowest household income in the table apart from Los Angeles, which is why its housing feels expensive for those who live there. See the Los Angeles County market data and our cost of living in California guide.
Ways to lower your costs in Long Beach
- Buy a condo instead of a house. Redfin's median condo sale was $419,988 in 90804 and $526,984 in 90802 over the three months to September 2026; see the Long Beach condo guide.
- Compare ZIPs before you search. Zillow's typical value in 90805 was $711,273 in September 2026 against $1,330,895 in 90803. Our Long Beach ZIP code guide covers all eleven.
- Live near the A Line or a Long Beach Transit route and drop a car, which MIT counts as the second-largest budget item for a single adult.
- File the homeowners' exemption with the Los Angeles County Assessor after you move in.
- Look at first-time buyer help. See our first-time homebuyer guide for state programs.
- Shop insurance every year, and price earthquake cover separately rather than skipping it.
- Time your purchase using the Long Beach housing market report; supply is higher in downtown condos than in east-side houses.