City Comparison
Long Beach vs Sacramento
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Sacramento scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Long Beach
Sacramento
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Sacramento is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
4% lower than in Long Beach.
| Metric | Long Beach | Sacramento | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,900 | $1,946 | -2% |
| Groceries | $460 | $400 | +15% |
| Utilities | $210 | $180 | +17% |
| Transport | $130 | $90 | +44% |
| Healthcare | $270 | $230 | +17% |
| Monthly Total | $2,970 | $2,846 | +4% |
| Cost Index | 142 | 112 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Long Beach offers 16% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Sacramento 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 $65,000 in Sacramento.
| Metric | Long Beach | Sacramento |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $89,000 | $77,000 |
| Salary Needed | $68,000 | $65,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 62,676 idx | 68,750 idx |
| Household Income | $87,430 | $91,387 |
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 | Sacramento |
|---|---|---|
| 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% | 55.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Sacramento has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
1,500 minutes (25 hours) per year compared to Long Beach.
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 | Sacramento |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 30 min | 27 min |
| Transit Score | 58.0/100 | 55.0/100 |
| Walkability | 68.0/100 | 47.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 56.00 | 47.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Sacramento is the larger city
— approximately 0.8x the population of Long Beach.
From a growth perspective, Sacramento is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Sacramento has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Long Beach | Sacramento |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 450,469 | 536,449 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 0.53% |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 36.0 |
| Unemployment | 5.10% | 5.00% |
| GDP | — | $135.5B |
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.
Sacramento
Advantages
Median home prices and rental rates remain significantly more affordable than coastal California hubs like San Francisco and San Jose.
Thriving farm-to-fork culinary scene with nationally acclaimed local restaurants and frequent community farmers' markets.
Extensive outdoor recreation access via the 32-mile American River Parkway and close proximity to Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada.
Stable, recession-resilient job market anchored by California state government administration and major healthcare systems.
Abundant sunshine and a Mediterranean climate averaging over 260 sunny days per year.
Drawbacks
Summer temperatures frequently exceed 95°F to 100°F, creating high cooling demands and seasonal heat advisories.
Property crime rates and urban homelessness present ongoing challenges in select downtown and inner-city commercial corridors.
Public transit infrastructure is limited outside of central urban grids, making outer neighborhoods heavily car-dependent.
State income tax rates align with California's top-tier state brackets, impacting high-earning households.
Vulnerability to seasonal wildfire smoke from surrounding foothills during dry summer and autumn months.
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
Sacramento
#542California, USA
49.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,946
Avg Salary
$77,000
Cost Index
112
Commute
27 min
Transit Score
55.0/100
Walkability
47.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.53%
Unemployment
5.00%
Livability
76
Business
72
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