Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Long Beach, CA and New York, NY

For one person, living is cheaper in Long Beach, CA: $3,170 a month against $4,906 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $20,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Long Beach, CA, United States
New York, NY, United States
Long Beach, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,170
/mo nomad
New York, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$4,906
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Long Beach, CA and in New York, NY

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Long Beach, CA and in New York, NY actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,170 in Long Beach, CA versus $4,906 in New York, NY.

  • Long Beach, CA $3,170
  • New York, NY $4,906

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,689 in Long Beach, CA versus $7,273 in New York, NY.

  • Long Beach, CA $4,689
  • New York, NY $7,273

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,209 in Long Beach, CA versus $9,641 in New York, NY.

  • Long Beach, CA $6,209
  • New York, NY $9,641

Living in Long Beach, CA costs roughly 35% less than in New York, NY, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Long Beach, CA 134% above, New York, NY 263% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Long Beach, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.97 $19.97
$26.93 $26.93
-25.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.0 $81.0
$117 $117
-30.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.09 $15.09
$14.60 $14.60
3.36%
Cappuccino
$6.05 $6.05
$6.54 $6.54
-7.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 $3.45
$3.86 $3.86
-10.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.95 $2.95
-17.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.53 $7.53
$8.08 $8.08
-6.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.64 $9.64
$9.85 $9.85
-2.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Long Beach, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.31 $1.31
-19.85%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.97 $4.97
-16.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.73 $4.73
$7.70 $7.70
-38.57%
Eggs
$4.77 $4.77
$6.09 $6.09
-21.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.84 $12.84
$19.55 $19.55
-34.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$20.28 $20.28
$17.59 $17.59
15.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.61 $15.61
$20.26 $20.26
-22.95%
Apples (1kg)
$4.92 $4.92
$6.99 $6.99
-29.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.21 $2.21
-22.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.56 $5.56
$6.72 $6.72
-17.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.93 $5.93
$7.12 $7.12
-16.71%
Potato (1kg)
$3.71 $3.71
$4.61 $4.61
-19.52%
Onion (1kg)
$2.25 $2.25
$4.78 $4.78
-52.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.87 $2.87
-30.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 $1.83
$2.69 $2.69
-31.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.86 $11.86
$19.14 $19.14
-38.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.24 $15.24
$19.63 $19.63
-22.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$3.32 $3.32
-42.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06 $4.06
$4.19 $4.19
-3.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Long Beach, CA
New York, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.23 $1.23
$3.02 $3.02
-59.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.3 $65.3
$139 $139
-53.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.05 $3.05
$3.04 $3.04
0.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 $1.82
$2.20 $2.20
-17.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.98 $35.98
$41.33 $41.33
-12.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.13 $1.13
40.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K $28.3K
$34.5K $34.5K
-17.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4K $27.4K
$25.8K $25.8K
6.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Long Beach, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 $170
$232 $232
-26.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$66.3 $66.3
$71.0 $71.0
-6.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.0 $60.0
$67.7 $67.7
-11.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Long Beach, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.19 $36.19
$115 $115
-68.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$76.8 $76.8
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.20 $15.20
$22.41 $22.41
-32.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Long Beach, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,936 $1,936
$3,606 $3,606
-46.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.7K $17.7K
$68.7K $68.7K
-74.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Long Beach, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.5 $57.5
$79.3 $79.3
-27.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.27 $39.27
$51.4 $51.4
-23.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.2 $91.2
$121 $121
-24.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147 $147
$140 $140
4.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Long Beach, CA
New York, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,097 $2,097
$4,555 $4,555
-53.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,759 $1,759
$3,040 $3,040
-42.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,556 $3,556
$9,742 $9,742
-63.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,038 $3,038
$5,331 $5,331
-43.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,121 $7,121
$18.2K $18.2K
-60.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,423 $6,423
$6,685 $6,685
-3.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Long Beach, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,670 $4,670
$5,096 $5,096
-8.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.31
6.89
-8.42%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Long Beach, CA: November 1, 2026

Last update for New York, NY: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Long Beach, CA
$1.8K
New York, NY
$3K 72.9% $1.3K
Groceries & Markets
Long Beach, CA
$457
New York, NY
$567 24.1% $110
Eating Out
Long Beach, CA
$358
New York, NY
$425 18.7% $67
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Long Beach, CA
$296
New York, NY
$371 25.2% $75
Clothing & Footwear
Long Beach, CA
$151
New York, NY
$176 17.1% $26
Getting Around
Long Beach, CA
$82
New York, NY
$165 101% $83
Sport & Entertainment
Long Beach, CA
$67
New York, NY
$160 141% $94

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,097 in Long Beach, CA and $4,555 in New York, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 9% 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 in Long Beach, CA vs $117 in New York, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $457 vs $567 per month, with Long Beach, CA cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Long Beach, CA
🇺🇸 New York, NY
🕒 Local time
15:18 3:18 PM
18:18 6:18 PM
3 h ahead of Long Beach, CA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
469,450
8,804,190
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.13 USD (1 USD = 0.888 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Long Beach, CA New York, NY 3,930 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Long Beach, CA
  • New York, NY

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 New York, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Long Beach, CA and in New York, NY?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $3,170 in Long Beach, CA and $4,906 in New York, NY, so Long Beach, CA is about 35% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 8% lower in Long Beach, CA. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Long Beach, CA and in New York, NY?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,097 in Long Beach, CA versus $4,555 in New York, NY. 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 Long Beach, CA – a meal for two runs $81 versus $117 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Long Beach, CA or New York, NY?
All in, you’ll spend $3,170 per month in Long Beach, CA versus $4,906 in New York, NY – Long Beach, CA is about 35% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Long Beach, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Where should families live: Long Beach, CA or New York, NY?
For families, Long Beach, CA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in New York, NY, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Where should expats move: Long Beach, CA or New York, NY?
Expats usually find Long Beach, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in New York, NY. 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

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