Moving to Long Beach? 2025 Living Costs & Relocation Tips

Long Beach is situated in southern California, most known for its waterfront attractions such as the permanently docked boat, the RMS Queen Mary. Long Beach dates back to the 1500s, and in the 1800s it was part of the real estate boom.

If you are considering moving to Long Beach, the various costs listed below will help you make an informed decision on what costs are involved when moving and living in ‘the Aquatic Capital of America.’

Quick Long Beach Facts:

Population: 451,307 (2022)
Official Language: English (de facto) with many other languages being spoken, including Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Tagalog, Russian, Arabic, Persian and German
Median Income: $36,963 USD (2022)
World’s Largest Mural: Wyland, an environmental marine artist, completed the Planet Ocean mural on the Long Beach Arena in 1992.
Currency: US Dollar (US$). As of 2024, £1 = $1.30, €1 = $1.09, $1 CAD = $0.73, $1 AUD = $0.67

Sections

1. Moving and Shipping Costs to Long Beach

The table below shows the estimated cost of hiring a 20- or 40-foot container from some of the largest cities in the US and around the world and shipping it to Long Beach:

Origin City	20FT	40FT
Beijing	$2,200 - $2,700	$3,500 - $4,000
Berlin	$4,000 - $4,500	$6,300 - $6,800
Chongqing	$2,200 - $2,700	$3,500 - $4,000
Chicago	$1,500 - $1,800	$2,500 - $2,800
Delhi	$2,400 - $2,900	$3,800 - $4,300
Dubai	$3,500 - $4,000	$5,400 - $5,900
Houston	$1,600 - $1,900	$2,600 - $2,900
London	$3,500 - $4,000	$5,600 - $6,100
Los Angeles	$450 - $650	$750 - $950
Madrid	$3,700 - $4,200	$5,900 - $6,400
New York City	$1,600 - $1,900	$2,600 - $2,900
Paris	$3,900 - $4,400	$6,200 - $6,700
Phoenix	$1,300 - $1,600	$2,200 - $2,500
Rome	$3,800 - $4,300	$6,000 - $6,500
Shanghai	$2,200 - $2,700	$3,600 - $4,100
Sydney	$2,600 - $3,100	$4,000 - $4,500
Toronto	$1,700 - $2,000	$2,800 - $3,100
Vancouver	$1,500 - $1,800	$2,500 - $2,800
Vienna	$4,100 - $4,600	$6,500 - $7,000

All figures are in USD;
The rates above are estimates only and may have changed since the time this article was updated (July 2024). They are based on the lowest estimated rate from either Freightos, iContainers, or SeaRates;
To get a more accurate idea of the cost for you, please use the quote form at the top of this page;
Please also see our guide to international container shipping.

You could also save money by comparing movers using the quote form below:

Compare Free Moving Quotes

Moving date

Pickup Zip

Delivery State

Delivery City

Switch to International Form

Selected Home Size

First & Last Name

Your Phone

Your Email

I agree to the terms of service

Your information is 100% Secure.

Thank you. You will hear from us soon.

Wait!

an agent is calling you now from

+1 (800) 680-6439

Please pick up your phone to be connected with an agent to give you a personalized quote based on your move details.

2. Long Beach Housing Costs

Property in Long Beach is far more affordable than in many other cities around the globe.

Monthly Rental Prices in Long Beach:

1 bedroom flat (apartment) in City Centre: $2,050+
1 bedroom flat outside the City Centre: $1,500+
3 bedroom flat in City Centre: $3,640+
3 bedroom flat outside the City Centre: $3,140+

Long Beach Home Purchase Prices:

Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy in City Centre: $10,100+
Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy outside City: $6,800+

Long Beach Housing Cost Comparison:

This is how rents in Long Beach compare with other cities around the globe.

London is 14.1% more expensive
New York 41% more expensive
Los Angeles is 19.5% more expensive
Toronto is 20.9% more expensive
Sydney is 4.6% cheaper
Paris is 34% cheaper
Dubai is 23.3% cheaper

Source: Numbeo

How to Save on Housing Costs:

Share a Flat or House: Sharing a house or a flat is a way to save on living expenses. You will probably have to share a bathroom but you will save at the end of the day. A cheaper option is to share a room. Have a look at the following sites to find your perfect room or flatmate: Trulia and Sublet.
Different Areas – Different Prices: Long Beach prides itself on being one of the few cities which has urban areas along the water and not just beaches. The city has a total of 27 different neighbourhoods, all with their own character. Among the most affordable neighbourhoods in Long Beach are Signal Hill, where you can sit and look down on the city; Bixby Knolls, with its 1920s and 1030s houses; Downtown has a good assortment of apartments and condos and has fine dining, bars and clubs right on the doorstep. Lower Downtown has affordable apartments and small, quaint houses right on the water. Wrigley, (yes, this is named after the Wrigley chewing gum tycoon) is an old part of town and is home to those who enjoy a Bohemian lifestyle. Naples is an area enjoyed by artists who have money. East Village is a great place for singles, with its vibrant nightlife.

3. Long Beach Food, Grocery and Restaurant Costs

Long Beach has some great restaurants and food stores. It is renowned for its enormous selection of restaurants, from burger joints to fine dining. It also has excellent local fresh produce which is used by restaurants and residents alike to produce good quality food.

Inexpensive Restaurant: $20
Takeout Coffee: $6.00
Bottle of Coke: $3.15
1L of Milk: $1.10
Loaf of Bread: $4.60
12 Eggs: $5.40
1kg Chicken: $15.30
1kg Beef: $17.50
1kg Apples: $4.20
1kg White Rice: $4.50

This is how restaurants and food prices compare with other major cities in the world.

London restaurants are 1.7% more expensive and groceries are 36.6% cheaper than Long Beach.
New York restaurants are 20.2% more expensive and groceries are 22.3% more expensive than Long Beach.
Los Angeles restaurants are 11.7% more expensive and groceries are 1.1% cheaper than Long Beach.
Toronto restaurants are 6.4% cheaper and groceries are 13.5% cheaper than Long Beach.
Sydney restaurants are 4.9% cheaper and groceries are 0.6% higher than Long Beach.
Paris restaurants are 10.1% cheaper and groceries are 1.5% cheaper than Long Beach.
Dubai restaurants are 12.1% cheaper and groceries are 58.7% cheaper than Long Beach.

Source: Numbeo

Bonus Tips for Cheaper Food, Restaurants and Groceries:

Know Your Supermarkets: Long Beach has a number of independently owned grocery stores as well as the usual supermarket chains. There are also farmers’ markets which sell excellent local produce and shops which sell health foods and organic foods. Popular supermarkets are Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe’s, Lazy Acres Natural Market and Stater Bros.
Find Cheap Eats: With a little bit of effort you can find places which offer excellent food at affordable prices. Have a look at Trip Advisor and Yelp.

4. Long Beach Alcohol Costs

Long Beach is well known for its selection of bars and restaurants. You can choose from cosy little bars to sophisticated cocktail lounges.

Pint (0.6L) domestic beer at a restaurant/pub: $7.25
Bottle of imported beer at a restaurant/pub: $8.00
Pint (0.6L) domestic beer at a supermarket: $2.80
Bottle of imported beer at a supermarket: $4.00
Mid-range bottle of wine at a supermarket: $10.00

How To Drink For Less in Long Beach:

Keep an eye on the local papers, billboards and websites for specials.
Eating out and going for drinks is part of living in Long Beach. Explore and enjoy what’s on offer. Have a look at the following sites to see which venue suits you – Yelp, Total Happy Hour, The Happy Hour Finder and LAWeekly.

5. Long Beach Transportation Fares

Long Beach has its own transportation system which is run by LB Transit. You can buy an EZ Transit Pass which will cover journeys throughout Los Angeles County, by metro, bus and rail.

Here are some example ticket costs.

Adult single – $1.50
One-day ticket – $4.00
Monthly season ticket, unlimited – $65.00

How To Save Money on Public Transport:

Buy a 5-day pass for $18
Buy a 4-day pass and get unlimited travel for $15
Buy a bike. Depending on where you live and work, cycling around the city is certainly a viable option. Buses also have bike racks for those who decide to cycle and then ride the bus.
Walk. If you live relatively close to where you work, you can walk to work.

6. Cost of Internet in Long Beach

Internet prices in the States are expensive compared with many other countries in the world. Here are some sample broadband internet prices from early 2023 for unlimited downloads, based on a 12-month contract:

Sprint: $50 a month (Unlimited high speed except for streaming gaming up to 8mb)
AT & T: $20 a month (50mb fibre)
Verizon: $80 a month

7. Cost of Clothing, Personal Items, Gym and Leisure

Long Beach boasts 300 days of sunshine per annum. July is its hottest month which an average temperature of 22°C and the average temperature in its coldest month is 13°C. January is the coldest and wettest month, where the average rainfall is around 79mm.

Here are some clothing prices, together with other useful prices.

Pair of Jeans: $50
Summer Dress: $25
Running Shoes (Trainers): $70
Business Shoes: $90
Short Doctor’s Visit (15 mins): $110
Deodorant: $4
Shampoo: $5
Toilet Paper (4 rolls): $5
Gym Membership: $35 per month
Movie (cinema) Ticket: $15

Source: Numbeo and Expatistan

8. Cost of Owning a Car and Driving a Car in Long Beach

Everyone in the US drives on the right. Many people use their cars for work in Long Beach and, even though the traffic can be heavy during rush hour, it’s nowhere near as bad as other major cities around the world.

If you’re moving to Long Beach from within the US, you’ll be able to keep your license but need to update your address to your new one.

You can drive on a foreign license for up to 12 months as a tourist but after that, you will need to get an American license. If you are working or studying in the US, you can drive on your foreign license for 30 days. If you want to exchange your foreign driver’s license you have to follow the process here.

Here are some other sample costs of owning and operating a car in Long Beach:

Volkswagen Golf: $24,000+
1 litre (¼ gallon) of Gas (petrol): $1.40
Other Fees (if any): the average cost of state and local taxes, license, title and registration fees is $665 per annum

Source: Expatistan, AAA Study

Ways To Save Money on Driving in Long Beach:

Car sharing or pooling is one way to save money. Try Car Pool World, Zipcar, and Enterprise Rideshare.
Taxis can sometimes be a cheaper option, especially if you are going to have to park all day. Try Uber or Lyft.

9. Taxes in Long Beach

No matter where you live in the State, you will pay federal tax. To learn more about the different taxes in the States go to Immihelp and USA taxes.

Sales Tax in Long Beach is 9.75% and is added to most goods and services. Generally, the price you see on an item does not include sales tax.

Whether you own or rent your home, you will be subject to property tax based on the area in which you live and the size of the property you live in. Learn more about property tax in Long Beach at Property Tax.

Finally, if you decide to buy a flat or house in Long Beach you’ll have to pay real estate transfer tax.

10. Flight Costs from Long Beach

If you do make the move to Long Beach, here’s approximately how much it will cost to fly to other major world cities based on the lowest, one-way fares from Skyscanner as of early 2023:

London: $805
New York: $310
Toronto: $450
Vancouver: $303
Dubai: $1,667
Sydney: $526
Melbourne: $465
Cape Town: $1,807
Hong Kong: $619

Other Tips on Moving to Long Beach:

The costs and pricing above should give you a good idea of the cost of living in Long Beach but perhaps the following extra tips will make your move go smoothly.

11. Moving to Long Beach Alone

Moving anywhere can be a lonely experience, but moving to a new city can be especially daunting. Here are a few tips about settling in Long Beach.

Meetups: There are many Meetup groups to choose from. You will definitely find something to join which will help you to settle in.
Attend Local Events: Long Beach has a lot to offer everyone who visits or lives there. Have a look at Trip Advisor, Timeout and Visit Long Beach.

12. Moving to Long Beach with a Family

Long Beach has a lot to offer families. It’s a vibrant, young city with the beach and mountains on its doorstep

New Parents (or parents to be): There are free and paid antenatal classes and courses. Have a look at Yelp.
Live in a Family-friendly Area: Bixby Knolls is one of the most affordable family-friendly areas in Long Beach with its 20s and 30s style homes. Belmont Heights has some excellent schools and some good family-style homes. Hellman Street is full of families and is known for its low crime rate and great schools.
Find Things To Do With The Kids: Long Beach is a fun place for kids to live. Have a look at the following sites to be inspired – Mommy Poppins, Family Days Out, Yelp, Moms LA and Kidventurous.

13. Moving to Long Beach for Work

People move to Long Beach for a relaxed lifestyle and for work. While it is possible to move without a job, it makes sense to ensure there are jobs in your field before you make the move. The unemployment rate in Long Beach is 5.2%. The main employers in the area are in the IT field, service industries, hospitality, retail and entertainment.

Here are a few things to consider when moving for work:

Salary: Salaries vary enormously depending on which industry you are in. The costs we outlined above should give you a rough idea of how much more you’ll want to make the move worthwhile. You can also check salary ranges on sites such as Glassdoor and Payscale.
How to Find Work: If you want to have a job lined up before you move to Long Beach, but aren’t sure where to begin, the following sites are good places to start: Monster, Indeed, Snagajob and Career Builder. You may also want to google recruiters in your industry, as they can often help land you some initial interviews as well.

14. Moving to Long Beach from Australia

There’s a large group of Australians in the Los Angeles and Long Beach area, probably attracted by the surf and the climate. If you are thinking of joining them, here are a few things to consider.

Size Comparison: If you compare the population size of Long Beach with a city in Australia, then the closest would be somewhere between Newcastle and the Gold Coast.
Join Expat Groups: There are a number of expat groups enabling you to meet fellow Aussies. Try Internations and Meetup.

15. Moving to Long Beach from Canada

There’s a large contingent of Canadians living in the Los Angeles and Long Beach area. If you’re considering making the move from Canada here are a few things to consider.

Size Comparison: If you compare the size of the population of Long Beach with a city of the same size in Canada, you’d be looking at a city a little larger than Kitchener.
Expat Groups: Meeting up with fellow Canadians helps the moving process. Link up through sites such as Internations, Meetup and Canadians Abroad.

16. Moving to Long Beach from the United Kingdom

There’s a large group of Brits living and working in Long Beach, enjoying the sand and the sun. If you are thinking of making the move from the UK to join them, then here are a few things to consider.

Size Comparison: If you look at the population size of San Diego and compare it with a city of the same size in the UK, you’d be looking at a city slightly smaller than Sheffield.
Expat Groups: If you want to get together with others from the UK who are experiencing the sun and surf, then go to Internations and Meetup.

Hopefully, the tips and costs above are helpful. If want to get started pricing out how much it will cost you to move to Long Beach you can start by comparing moving quotes here.

Useful Guides to Other Californian Cities