Bellevue vs Long Beach
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Bellevue
Long Beach
💡 The Verdict
Bellevue is 22% cheaper than Long Beach overall. A $75,000 salary in Bellevue is equivalent to $96,074 in Long Beach.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Bellevue (left) vs Long Beach (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Bellevue versus Long Beach. Differences shown from Bellevue perspective.
| Item | Bellevue | Long Beach | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $900/mo | $1,580/mo | $-680.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,360/mo | $2,200/mo | $-840.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,800/mo | $2,950/mo | $-1150.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $3.27 | $3.14 | +$0.13 |
| Milk (gallon) | $4.07 | $4.19 | $-0.12 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.52 | $3.34 | +$0.18 |
| Coffee (latte) | $6.68 | $5.87 | +$0.81 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.84 | $3.71 | +$0.13 |
| Restaurant Meal | $17.54 | $20.86 | $-3.32 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Bellevue has the same purchasing power as $96,074 in Long Beach.
Conversely, $75,000 in Long Beach equals $58,548 in Bellevue.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $4651 difference is driven by California having a higher state income tax rate. Washington details → · California details →
Reading These Numbers: Bellevue (121) vs Long Beach (155)
Bellevue at 121 is 21% above the US average, while Long Beach at 155 is 55% above average. There is a meaningful cost gap between these two cities that affects day-to-day budgeting.
In Bellevue, the composite index of 121 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 106, followed by groceries (111), utilities (122), transportation (129), and healthcare (131). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,360/mo in Bellevue and $2,200/mo in Long Beach, the annual rent difference is approximately $10,080.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $50,400.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $349,000.0 difference in median home prices between Bellevue and Long Beach translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: Bellevue vs Long Beach
Choosing between Bellevue and Long Beach involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
When weighing Bellevue against Long Beach, think beyond the composite index. Your personal savings rate, retirement timeline, and family size all influence which cost categories dominate your budget. Someone spending sixty percent of income on housing and childcare will experience these two cities very differently than a single renter whose largest variable expense is dining out. Model your own spending breakdown against the category indices above for the most realistic comparison.