City Comparison
Long Beach vs San Diego
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
San Diego scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Long Beach
San Diego
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Long Beach is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
29% lower than in San Diego.
Housing costs are a major driver: Long Beach's average rent is
38% lower than San Diego's.
| Metric | Long Beach | San Diego | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,900 | $3,046 | -38% |
| Groceries | $460 | $480 | -4% |
| Utilities | $210 | $210 | 0% |
| Transport | $130 | $140 | -7% |
| Healthcare | $270 | $280 | -4% |
| Monthly Total | $2,970 | $4,156 | -29% |
| Cost Index | 142 | 138 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Long Beach offers 13% 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 $72,000 in San Diego.
| Metric | Long Beach | San Diego |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $89,000 | $79,000 |
| Salary Needed | $68,000 | $72,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 62,676 idx | 57,246 idx |
| Household Income | $87,430 | $108,077 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.6°F of each other.
| Metric | Long Beach | San Diego |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 63.70°F | 63.10°F |
| Summer High | 76.80°F | 74.60°F |
| Winter Low | 49.50°F | 49.40°F |
| Rainfall | 19.30 in | 17.40 in |
| Snowfall | 0.00 in | 0.00 in |
| Sunny Days | 328 | 322 |
| Humidity | 64.00% | 64.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
San Diego has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,000 minutes (33 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 | San Diego |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 30 min | 26 min |
| Transit Score | 58.0/100 | 55.0/100 |
| Walkability | 68.0/100 | 53.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 56.00 | 54.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
San Diego is the larger city
— approximately 0.3x the population of Long Beach.
From a growth perspective, San Diego is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, San Diego has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Long Beach | San Diego |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 450,469 | 1,406,106 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 0.31% |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 36.2 |
| Unemployment | 5.10% | 4.50% |
| GDP | — | $266.9B |
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.
San Diego
Advantages
Year-round mild climate featuring 322 sunny days per year and proximity to 70 miles of coastline.
World-class healthcare infrastructure led by top-ranked institutions like UC San Diego Health and Scripps Health.
Thriving innovation economy anchored by biotechnology, life sciences, and defense industries.
Exceptional outdoor recreation opportunities, including Balboa Park, Torrey Pines, and extensive coastal access.
High educational attainment levels and a culturally diverse, energetic population.
Drawbacks
High cost of living and soaring housing prices that run significantly above the national average.
Heavy traffic congestion during peak commuting hours along major freeways like I-5 and I-805.
Elevated gasoline and utility prices compared to national norms.
Property crime rates in certain urban pockets and downtown corridors require standard vigilance.
Limited geographical expansion space leading to fierce competition in the real estate market.
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
San Diego
#536California, USA
49.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$3,046
Avg Salary
$79,000
Cost Index
138
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
55.0/100
Walkability
53.0/100
Sunny Days
322/yr
Avg Temp
63.10°F
Pop. Growth
0.31%
Unemployment
4.50%
Livability
85
Business
78
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