CostIndexUSA

Long Beach, CA vs Modesto, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Long Beach
113.6
overall index
$2,550/mo rent
More AffordableCA
Modesto
104.1
overall index
$2,100/mo rent

Modesto is moderately cheaper than Long Beach — 8.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Long Beach, you would need $73,300 in Modesto. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing36.3%
Long Beach
170.4
Modesto
108.5
🛒 Groceries1.3%
Long Beach
106.6
Modesto
105.2
🚗 Transportation3.9%
Long Beach
109.6
Modesto
105.3
🏥 Healthcare3.8%
Long Beach
99.1
Modesto
95.3
Utilities4.0%
Long Beach
158.6
Modesto
152.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Modesto, CA
$73,300
$6,700 less needed in Modesto

Formula: salary × (104.1 ÷ 113.6) = salary × 0.9164. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Long Beach, CA

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

Modesto, CA

Median Home Price
$457,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,100
Housing Index
108.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.1×

Long Beach has 36.3% lower housing costs compared to Modesto.

Income & Job Market

Long Beach, CA

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

Modesto, CA

Median Household Income
$82,800
Per Capita Income
$47,200
Unemployment Rate
6.6%
Population
218,464
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailEducation

Affordability at a Glance

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

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

67% of income left after rent (median)

Modesto, CA
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

70% 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.