City Comparison
Long Beach vs Riverside
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Riverside scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Long Beach
Riverside
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Long Beach is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
9% lower than in Riverside.
Housing costs are a major driver: Long Beach's average rent is
16% lower than Riverside's.
| Metric | Long Beach | Riverside | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,900 | $2,269 | -16% |
| Groceries | $460 | $420 | +10% |
| Utilities | $210 | $190 | +11% |
| Transport | $130 | $130 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $270 | $240 | +13% |
| Monthly Total | $2,970 | $3,249 | -9% |
| Cost Index | 142 | 118 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Long Beach offers 31% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Long Beach delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Long Beach is estimated at
$68,000 vs $58,000 in Riverside.
| Metric | Long Beach | Riverside |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $89,000 | $68,000 |
| Salary Needed | $68,000 | $58,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 62,676 idx | 57,627 idx |
| Household Income | $87,430 | $91,045 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Long Beach runs warmer on average — a 63.7°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Long Beach comes out ahead with 328 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Long Beach sees 0 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Long Beach | Riverside |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 63.70°F | °F |
| Summer High | 76.80°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 49.50°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 19.30 in | in |
| Snowfall | 0.00 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 328 | |
| Humidity | 64.00% | 52.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
Long Beach scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Long Beach leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Long Beach | Riverside |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 30 min | 31 min |
| Transit Score | 58.0/100 | 45.0/100 |
| Walkability | 68.0/100 | 42.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 56.00 | 62.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Long Beach is the larger city
— approximately 1.4x the population of Riverside.
From a growth perspective, Riverside is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
| Metric | Long Beach | Riverside |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 450,469 | 323,057 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 0.61% |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 33.6 |
| Unemployment | 5.10% | 5.10% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Long Beach
Advantages
Median household income stands at $87,430, supporting a stable local purchasing power relative to state baselines.
Exceptional climate featuring 328 sunny days annually, ideal for outdoor recreation and coastal activities.
World-class higher education infrastructure anchored by California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) and Long Beach City College.
Extensive pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, making core districts like Belmont Shore and Downtown highly walkable and bike-friendly.
Diverse and thriving economy driven by international trade at the Port of Long Beach, aerospace, and robust healthcare sectors.
Drawbacks
High cost of living and steep housing prices, with average rents exceeding national medians.
Traffic congestion along major regional arteries and freeways, particularly related to port freight and commuter transit.
Property crime rates in certain central and urban corridors remain higher than the national average.
State energy taxes and utility costs run noticeably higher than the U.S. average.
Poverty rate sits near 14.3%, indicating income inequality across specific neighborhood pockets.
Riverside
Advantages
Median home prices and rents remain significantly more affordable in Riverside compared to coastal Southern California markets like Los Angeles and Orange County.
The city features prominent cultural landmarks and attractions, including the historic Mission Inn and the nationally renowned Festival of Lights.
Proximity to higher education powerhouses like UC Riverside drives local innovation, arts, and a young, dynamic demographic baseline.
Abundant outdoor recreational opportunities are easily accessible, highlighted by Mount Rubidoux Park and regional wilderness reserves.
A strategic geographic location with robust freeway and rail connectivity links residents directly to major Southern California job centers.
Drawbacks
Regional air quality and summer ozone levels can be challenged by inland valley geography and heavy regional commuter traffic.
A considerable percentage of the local workforce commutes outside the city or county for employment, leading to heavy peak-hour freeway congestion.
Local summer temperatures frequently climb well above comfortable thresholds, driving up residential cooling and utility costs.
Overall cost of living indices remain higher than the national U.S. average, posing budget challenges for lower-income households.
Property crime rates in specific commercial corridors and transit-adjacent pockets require ongoing community and municipal intervention.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Long Beach
#579California, USA
45.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,900
Avg Salary
$89,000
Cost Index
142
Commute
30 min
Transit Score
58.0/100
Walkability
68.0/100
Sunny Days
328/yr
Avg Temp
63.70°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
5.10%
Livability
78
Business
72
Riverside
#463California, USA
54.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,269
Avg Salary
$68,000
Cost Index
118
Commute
31 min
Transit Score
45.0/100
Walkability
42.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.61%
Unemployment
5.10%
Livability
75
Business
70
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