CostIndexUSA

College Station, TX vs Long Beach, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
College Station
91
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
CA
Long Beach
113.6
overall index
$2,550/mo rent

College Station is significantly cheaper than Long Beach — 24.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in College Station, you would need $99,900 in Long Beach. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+126.9%
College Station
75.1
Long Beach
170.4
🛒 Groceries+13.6%
College Station
93.8
Long Beach
106.6
🚗 Transportation+8.4%
College Station
101.1
Long Beach
109.6
🏥 Healthcare+8.4%
College Station
91.4
Long Beach
99.1
Utilities+87.9%
College Station
84.4
Long Beach
158.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in College Station to see what you'd need to earn in Long Beach to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Long Beach, CA
$99,900
$19,900 more needed in Long Beach

Formula: salary × (113.6 ÷ 91) = salary × 1.2484. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

College Station, TX

Median Home Price
$301,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
75.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Long Beach, CA

Median Home Price
$565,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,550
Housing Index
170.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Long Beach has 126.9% higher housing costs compared to College Station.

Income & Job Market

College Station, TX

Median Household Income
$54,700
Per Capita Income
$31,200
Unemployment Rate
4.8%
Population
120,511
Top Industries
EducationTechnologyHealthcareGovernmentResearch

Long Beach, CA

Median Household Income
$92,000
Per Capita Income
$52,400
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
466,742
Top Industries
LogisticsHealthcareManufacturingEntertainmentRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

College Station, TX
2.7×income-to-rent ratio

63% of income left after rent (median)

Long Beach, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.