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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,458 in New York, NY versus $3,387 in Long Beach, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,020 in New York, NY versus $4,835 in Long Beach, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,582 in New York, NY versus $6,283 in Long Beach, CA.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 32% more expensive than Long Beach, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 232% above, Long Beach, CA 152% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.87 $29.87

$18.31 $18.31

63.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$148 $148

$79.2 $79.2

86.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.37 $12.37

$14.96 $14.96

-17.31%

Cappuccino

$6.07 $6.07

$5.25 $5.25

15.62%

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

$3.21 $3.21

$2.91 $2.91

10.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.22 $2.22

19.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.44 $7.44

5.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.19 $12.19

$8.20 $8.20

48.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.17 $1.17

32.48%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.25 $4.25

20.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.16 $8.16

$4.41 $4.41

85.03%

Eggs

$6.96 $6.96

$3.70 $3.70

88.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.53 $17.53

$12.27 $12.27

42.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.22 $16.22

$12.86 $12.86

26.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.40 $20.40

$15.23 $15.23

33.95%

Apples (1kg)

$7.60 $7.60

$4.45 $4.45

70.79%

Banana (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.67 $1.67

46.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$4.04 $4.04

39.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$4.69 $4.69

37.95%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.08 $3.08

20.78%

Onion (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$2.47 $2.47

61.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.01 $2.01

56.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.13 $2.13

15.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.92 $18.92

$10.97 $10.97

72.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.27 $20.27

$14.92 $14.92

35.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.82 $1.82

58.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 $3.88

$2.47 $2.47

57.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.76 $1.76

64.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$132 $132

$69.6 $69.6

90.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.10 $5.10

$3.05 $3.05

67.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 $2.19

$4.41 $4.41

-50.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.50 $42.50

$27.58 $27.58

54.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.30 $1.30

-26.92%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

$25.9K $25.9K

37.03%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$26.7K $26.7K

5.99%

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

$181 $181

$160 $160

12.76%

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

$59.8 $59.8

$54.5 $54.5

9.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.8 $63.8

$57.9 $57.9

10.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$141 $141

$39.63 $39.63

255.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.9 $64.9

Cinema Ticket

$19.92 $19.92

$14.98 $14.98

32.98%

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

$3,208 $3,208

$1,487 $1,487

115.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.8K $57.8K

$28.7K $28.7K

101.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.3 $68.3

$46.73 $46.73

46.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.77 $48.77

$34.40 $34.40

41.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$100 $100

12.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$172 $172

$103 $103

66.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,213 $4,213

$2,359 $2,359

78.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,706 $2,706

$2,049 $2,049

32.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,515 $8,515

$3,713 $3,713

129.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,231 $5,231

$3,432 $3,432

52.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$17.9K $17.9K

$7,010 $7,010

155.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,389 $6,389

$7,030 $7,030

-9.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,445 $5,445

$4,437 $4,437

22.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.39

0.78%

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

Last update for New York, NY: June 7, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,213 in New York, NY and $2,359 in Long Beach, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY 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: $148 in New York, NY vs $79.0 in Long Beach, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 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

New York, NY vs Long Beach, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY and Long Beach, CA differ by about 32% in total monthly costs ($4,458 vs $3,387 including rent). Long Beach, CA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

New York, NY 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: $4,213 in New York, NY versus $2,359 in Long Beach, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Long Beach, CA – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $148 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $4,458 per month in New York, NY versus $3,387 in Long Beach, CA – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

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 Long Beach, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.