Cost of Living Comparison Between Long Beach, CA and Redding, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Long Beach, CA and Redding, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,387 in Long Beach, CA versus $2,473 in Redding, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,835 in Long Beach, CA versus $3,496 in Redding, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,283 in Long Beach, CA versus $4,520 in Redding, CA.

Living in Long Beach, CA is roughly 37% more expensive than Redding, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Long Beach, CA 152% above, Redding, CA 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.31 $18.31

$18.30 $18.30

0.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.2 $79.2

$60.4 $60.4

31.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.96 $14.96

$12.11 $12.11

23.53%

Cappuccino

$5.25 $5.25

$4.83 $4.83

8.70%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.33 $2.33

24.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.24 $2.24

-0.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.44 $7.44

$5.36 $5.36

38.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$5.03 $5.03

63.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.33 $1.33

-12.03%

White Bread (500g)

$4.25 $4.25

$4.98 $4.98

-14.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.16 $4.16

6.01%

Eggs

$3.70 $3.70

$4.10 $4.10

-9.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.27 $12.27

$12.51 $12.51

-1.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.86 $12.86

$14.76 $14.76

-12.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.23 $15.23

$17.11 $17.11

-10.99%

Apples (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$5.92 $5.92

-24.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 $1.67

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$3.54 $3.54

14.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.69 $4.69

$5.35 $5.35

-12.34%

Potato (1kg)

$3.08 $3.08

$4.57 $4.57

-32.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$3.48 $3.48

-29.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.10 $2.10

-4.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.75 $1.75

21.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.97 $10.97

$10.12 $10.12

8.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.92 $14.92

$10.53 $10.53

41.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.47 $1.47

23.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$3.28 $3.28

-24.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.52 $1.52

15.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$69.6 $69.6

$50.7 $50.7

37.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.96 $2.96

3.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.41 $4.41

$2.46 $2.46

79.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.58 $27.58

$40.51 $40.51

-31.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.23 $1.23

5.69%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.9K $25.9K

$23.7K $23.7K

9.17%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.2K $26.2K

1.93%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$160 $160

$280 $280

-42.81%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$54.5 $54.5

$53.5 $53.5

1.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 $57.9

$71.8 $71.8

-19.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.63 $39.63

$56.7 $56.7

-30.09%

Cinema Ticket

$14.98 $14.98

$8.91 $8.91

68.13%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,487 $1,487

$2,746 $2,746

-45.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.7K $28.7K

$37.9K $37.9K

-24.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.73 $46.73

$62.4 $62.4

-25.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.40 $34.40

$32.85 $32.85

4.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$81.4 $81.4

22.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$126 $126

-17.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,359 $2,359

$1,302 $1,302

81.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,049 $2,049

$1,034 $1,034

98.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,713 $3,713

$1,841 $1,841

101.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,432 $3,432

$1,633 $1,633

110.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,010 $7,010

$2,721 $2,721

157.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,030 $7,030

$2,675 $2,675

162.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,437 $4,437

$3,614 $3,614

22.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

6.55

-2.44%

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

Last update for Long Beach, CA: June 9, 2026

Last update for Redding, CA: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,359 in Long Beach, CA and $1,302 in Redding, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Long Beach, CA pays 23% 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: $79.0 in Long Beach, CA vs $60.0 in Redding, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $397 vs $424, with Long Beach, CA cheaper for home cooking.

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 Redding, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Long Beach, CA and Redding, CA differ by about 37% in total monthly costs ($3,387 vs $2,473 including rent). Redding, CA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Long Beach, CA pays 23% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,359 in Long Beach, CA versus $1,302 in Redding, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Redding, CA – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $79.0 in Long Beach, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,387 per month in Long Beach, CA versus $2,473 in Redding, CA – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Redding, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Expats usually find Redding, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Long Beach, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.