😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,175 in Long Beach, CA versus $2,645 in Milan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,908 in Long Beach, CA versus $4,044 in Milan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,641 in Long Beach, CA versus $5,444 in Milan.
🌍Living in Long Beach, CA is roughly 20% more expensive than in Milan, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Long Beach, CA131% above, Milan92% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Long Beach, CA
Milan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.13$20.13
$24.76€21.30
-18.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.3$81.3
$97.3€83.7
-16.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.76$14.76
$13.91€11.97
6.11%
Cappuccino
$6.30$6.30
$2.13€1.83
195.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43$3.43
$4.02€3.46
-14.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49$2.49
$2.06€1.78
20.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.41$7.41
$6.89€5.93
7.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.67$9.67
$6.96€5.99
38.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Long Beach, CA
Milan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04$1.04
$1.79€1.54
-41.90%
White Bread(500g)
$4.04$4.04
$3.34€2.87
20.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.70$4.70
$3.78€3.25
24.34%
Eggs
$4.72$4.72
$5.07€4.36
-6.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.00$13.00
$23.70€20.39
-45.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.74$14.74
$15.03€12.93
-1.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.23$15.23
$23.74€20.43
-35.85%
Apples(1kg)
$4.88$4.88
$3.22€2.77
51.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.67$1.67
$2.55€2.19
-34.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.41$5.41
$3.50€3.01
54.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.70$5.70
$4.59€3.95
24.18%
Potato(1kg)
$3.66$3.66
$2.47€2.12
48.18%
Onion(1kg)
$2.32$2.32
$2.15€1.85
7.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.05$2.05
$1.84€1.58
11.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.93$1.93
$0.60€0.51
221.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.61$11.61
$7.52€6.47
54.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.78$14.78
$9.35€8.05
58.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91$1.91
$2.05€1.77
-6.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.23$4.23
$2.36€2.03
79.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Long Beach, CA
Milan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.71$1.71
$2.49€2.14
-31.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$68.1$68.1
$45.87€39.47
48.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.85$2.85
$8.07€6.94
-64.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.47$2.47
$2.37€2.04
4.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$60.3$60.3
$65.0€56.0
-7.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.41$1.41
$2.15€1.85
-34.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1K$37.1K
$38.3K€32.9K
-2.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K$25.6K
$37.7K€32.4K
-32.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Long Beach, CA
Milan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$167$167
$267€230
-37.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$68.7$68.7
$10.89€9.37
530.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.3$60.3
$30.70€26.41
96.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Long Beach, CA
Milan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.47$40.47
$88.4€76.0
-54.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.05€29.30
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.87$14.87
$12.87€11.08
15.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Long Beach, CA
Milan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,640$1,640
$862€742
90.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$37.4K$37.4K
$20.1K€17.3K
86.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Long Beach, CA
Milan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.2$57.2
$106€91.6
-46.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.58$39.58
$52.6€45.24
-24.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.2$93.2
$117€101
-20.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$143$143
$170€146
-16.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Long Beach, CA
Milan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,085$2,085
$1,740€1,498
19.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,798$1,798
$1,223€1,052
47.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,619$3,619
$3,638€3,130
-0.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,481$3,481
$2,089€1,797
66.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,117$7,117
$11.1K€9,559
-35.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,810$6,810
$5,102€4,390
33.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Long Beach, CA
Milan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,374$4,374
$2,275€1,958
92.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.13
3.17
93.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Long Beach, CA: August 31, 2026
Last update for Milan: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,085 in Long Beach, CA and $1,740 in Milan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Long Beach, CA pays 92% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $81.0 in Long Beach, CA vs $97.0 in Milan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $426 vs $432 per month, with Long Beach, CA cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Long Beach, CA vs Milan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Long Beach, CA and in Milan?
Long Beach, CA and Milan differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($3,175 vs $2,645 including rent). Milan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Long Beach, CA or Milan?
Average pay runs 92% higher in Long Beach, CA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Long Beach, CA and in Milan?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,085 in Long Beach, CA versus $1,740 in Milan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Milan – a meal for two runs $97.0 versus $81.0 in Long Beach, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Long Beach, CA or Milan?
All in, you'll spend $3,175 per month in Long Beach, CA versus $2,645 in Milan – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is feasible on a $2,500 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Milan is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Long Beach, CA and Milan?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Long Beach, CA or Milan safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Long Beach, CA and Milan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Long Beach, CA or Milan?
Expats usually find Milan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Long Beach, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Long Beach, CA vs other spots: cost of living compared