Median rent is 14% lower in Long Beach ($1,871/mo vs $2,175/mo). Buying is cheaper in Long Beach, where the median home runs $806,600 versus $831,200. Households earn more in Anaheim ($95,227 vs $87,430 a year). Overall, the two cities have a nearly identical cost of living index (114.7).
City A
Anaheim, CA
City B
Long Beach, CA
How much would you need to earn in Long Beach, CA to maintain your standard of living from Anaheim, CA?
Equivalent salary in Long Beach, CA
$75,000
Costs are about the same in both cities.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Anaheim
California
Long Beach
California
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Long Beach at $1,871/mo compared to $2,175/mo in Anaheim (14% gap). Median home values are within 3% of each other: $831,200 in Anaheim and $806,600 in Long Beach.
Metric
Anaheim
Long Beach
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Anaheim
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Long Beach
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Anaheim has cleaner air on average: 35.0 AQI (Good) compared to 65.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Anaheim if you prioritize higher median household income ($95,227/yr).
Pick Long Beach if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,871/mo median).
Pick Anaheim if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 35.0).
Anaheim is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 114.7 versus 114.7 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 0% lower in Anaheim.
Median rent is $2,175/mo in Anaheim, CA and $1,871/mo in Long Beach, CA. Long Beach, CA has the lower rent by about 14%.
Median household income is $95,227 in Anaheim, CA and $87,430 in Long Beach, CA. Anaheim, CA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Anaheim, CA has better air quality on average: 35.0 AQI versus 65.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Anaheim, CA is equivalent to roughly $100,000 in Long Beach, CA (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
