🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,531 in Milan versus $3,378 in Long Beach, CA.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,851 in Milan versus $4,829 in Long Beach, CA.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,171 in Milan versus $6,280 in Long Beach, CA.
🙂Living in Milan costs roughly 25% less than in Long Beach, CA, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Milan89% above, Long Beach, CA152% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Milan
Long Beach, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.82€19.46
$18.11$18.11
26.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.2€80.4
$80.0$80.0
17.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.93€11.03
$15.06$15.06
-14.14%
Cappuccino
$2.12€1.81
$5.15$5.15
-58.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39€2.89
$2.93$2.93
15.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47€1.26
$2.26$2.26
-34.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.88€5.87
$7.31$7.31
-5.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74€4.90
$8.12$8.12
-29.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Milan
Long Beach, CA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78€1.52
$1.17$1.17
52.14%
White Bread(500g)
$2.83€2.42
$4.08$4.08
-30.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.32€2.84
$4.31$4.31
-22.97%
Eggs
$4.25€3.62
$3.84$3.84
10.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.43€16.57
$12.31$12.31
57.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.07€11.15
$12.78$12.78
2.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$24.60€20.98
$15.25$15.25
61.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.85€2.43
$4.56$4.56
-37.50%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.03
$1.71$1.71
39.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.23€2.76
$4.06$4.06
-20.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.95€3.37
$4.89$4.89
-19.22%
Potato(1kg)
$2.53€2.15
$3.00$3.00
-15.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.80
$2.48$2.48
-14.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.69€1.44
$2.08$2.08
-18.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73€0.62
$2.15$2.15
-66.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.96€5.94
$11.12$11.12
-37.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.58€8.17
$15.08$15.08
-36.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47€2.11
$1.75$1.75
41.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.56
$2.53$2.53
18.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Milan
Long Beach, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.58€2.20
$1.71$1.71
50.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.45€38.77
$67.8$67.8
-32.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.13€6.94
$2.96$2.96
174.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.53€2.16
$4.39$4.39
-42.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$39.15€33.39
$27.74$27.74
41.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.12€1.81
$1.30$1.30
63.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7K€28.8K
$25.4K$25.4K
32.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.3K€31.0K
$27.4K$27.4K
32.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Milan
Long Beach, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$214€183
$159$159
34.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.40€9.72
$53.0$53.0
-78.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.16€26.58
$58.6$58.6
-46.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Milan
Long Beach, CA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$73.8€63.0
$38.98$38.98
89.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.05€31.60
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.53€9.83
$15.01$15.01
-23.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Milan
Long Beach, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$900€768
$1,490$1,490
-39.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€13.9K
$28.7K$28.7K
-43.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Milan
Long Beach, CA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$112€95.7
$48.11$48.11
133.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.6€45.73
$33.79$33.79
58.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116€99.0
$99.6$99.6
16.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$170€145
$104$104
63.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Milan
Long Beach, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,375
$2,384$2,384
-32.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,118€954
$2,078$2,078
-46.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,177€2,710
$3,611$3,611
-12.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,053€1,751
$3,343$3,343
-38.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$10.9K€9,326
$7,131$7,131
53.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,341€4,556
$6,865$6,865
-22.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Milan
Long Beach, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,317€1,976
$4,425$4,425
-47.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.25
6.39
-49.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Milan: April 20, 2026
Last update for Long Beach, CA: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Milan and $2,384 in Long Beach, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Long Beach, CA pays 91% 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: $94 in Milan vs $80 in Long Beach, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $400 vs $397 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
Milan vs Long Beach, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Milan and Long Beach, CA?
Milan and Long Beach, CA differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($2,531 vs $3,378 including rent). Milan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Long Beach, CA earns 91% less. 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 Milan and Long Beach, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Milan versus $2,384 in Long Beach, CA. 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 $94.0 versus $80.0 in Long Beach, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Milan or Long Beach, CA?
All in, you'll spend $2,531 per month in Milan versus $3,378 in Long Beach, CA – a 33% 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 Milan and Long Beach, CA?
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 Milan or Long Beach, CA safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Milan and Long Beach, CA 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: Milan or Long Beach, CA?
Expats usually find Milan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Long Beach, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.