F
66%
Overall NAT. AVG.
27%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
175%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Long Beach New York National
Cost of living166117100
Goods & Services127108100
Groceries113102100
Health care121103100
Housing275145100
Transportation115105100
Utilities102100100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Long Beach, NY

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Long Beach? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Long Beach stands at 166, making it 66% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Long Beach may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Long Beach falls within this bracket.

Housing costs significantly influence the Long Beach cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 174.7%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.

Recurring essentials like haircuts, toothpaste, and entertainment, from movies to gym sessions, can really add up in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In Long Beach, you you will have to spend 26.8% more than average when compared to the typical prices for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

Groceries are getting more expensive by the day and the cost of groceries makes up 13% of the overall cost of living index. In the past two years, prices have shot up by over 10%! Unfortunately, in Long Beach, it's the same story – grocery costs are 13.4% higher than what people pay across the country.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Long Beach?

The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 9 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Long Beach. The feedback revealed that 33% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 67% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.

Is Long Beach Affordable?

Is Long Beach an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Long Beach is 201% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 113.5% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Long Beach has a median household income of $106,709, which is 92.9% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Long Beach?

Housing: When there's a high demand for housing in trendy places, it can cause property prices and rental rates to soar, leading to a significantly higher cost of living. Conversely, in less desirable locations, where demand is low, prices tend to decrease, resulting in a more budget-friendly cost of living. In Long Beach, the housing index is 174.7% higher than the national average.

Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Long Beach, the transportation index is 15.2% higher than the national average.

Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Long Beach, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Long Beach is 42% higher than the New York average
  • The cost of living in Long Beach is 66% higher than the national average
  • Long Beach housing is 175% higher than the national average
  • New York general sales tax is 22% lower than the national average
  • New York state income tax is 54% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Long Beach

See all the best places to live around Long Beach

Compare Long Beach, NY Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$127,907$10,659$2,984$3,838
      Renters$78,673$6,556$1,836$2,360
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Long Beach, NY, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Long Beach, the median monthly income is $127,907 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $2,984 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $78,673, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $1,836 on monthly rental expenses.

      New York Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      New York 4% 8.875%

      New York Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      New York 4% 10.9%

      Goods & Services

      Item Long Beach National avg. Difference
      Haircut $34.94$24.2644.0%
      Beauty Salon $64.07$45.5640.6%
      Toothpaste $3.96$3.707.0%
      Shampoo $1.69$1.2832.3%
      Movie $13.68$12.1312.8%
      Bowling $29.40$18.0063.3%

      Groceries

      Item Long Beach National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.87$5.840.6%
      Fried Chicken $1.46$1.576.9%
      Milk $4.97$4.676.3%
      Potatoes $5.21$4.935.7%
      Pizza $12.57$12.094.0%
      Beer $11.87$10.4114.0%

      Health Care

      Item Long Beach National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $128.97$125.682.6%
      Doctor $162.24$135.7819.5%
      Dentist $149.64$113.2932.1%
      Ibuprofen $11.15$10.654.6%
      Lipitor $402.75$468.6014.1%

      Housing

      Item Long Beach National avg. Difference
      Home Price $555,900.00$184,700.00201.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $6,916.73$2,346.69194.7%
      Apartment Rent $2,026.00$949.00113.5%

      Transportation

      Item Long Beach National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.55$3.462.5%
      Tire Balancing $86.43$59.9244.2%

      Utilities

      Item Long Beach National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $201.27$193.993.8%
      Phone $200.67$192.254.4%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Hempstead, NY55,15313635.8%
      Copiague, NY23,20013332.8%
      North Amityville, NY18,89013333.3%
      North Lindenhurst, NY10,86013433.6%
      Roslyn, NY2,88813938.7%
      Long Beach, NY33,47516665.5%

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      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Lake Stevens, WA33,47014039.6%
      Saint-Georges, QC33,468n/a 
      Fairborn, OH33,456927.9%
      Estero, FL33,45012626.2%
      Woodridge, IL33,44311616.1%
      Long Beach, NY33,47516665.5%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.