Cary vs Long Beach
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Cary
Long Beach
💡 The Verdict
Cary is 34% cheaper than Long Beach overall. A $75,000 salary in Cary is equivalent to $113,971 in Long Beach.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Cary (left) vs Long Beach (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Cary versus Long Beach. Differences shown from Cary perspective.
| Item | Cary | Long Beach | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $1,020/mo | $1,580/mo | $-560.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,340/mo | $2,200/mo | $-860.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,790/mo | $2,950/mo | $-1160.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.65 | $3.14 | $-0.49 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.62 | $4.19 | $-0.57 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $2.77 | $3.34 | $-0.57 |
| Coffee (latte) | $5.88 | $5.87 | +$0.01 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.45 | $3.71 | $-0.26 |
| Restaurant Meal | $16.45 | $20.86 | $-4.41 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Cary has the same purchasing power as $113,971 in Long Beach.
Conversely, $75,000 in Long Beach equals $49,355 in Cary.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $1200 difference is driven by California having a higher state income tax rate. North Carolina details → · California details →
Reading These Numbers: Cary (102) vs Long Beach (155)
Cary at 102 is 2% 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 Cary, the composite index of 102 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 104, followed by groceries (96), utilities (92), transportation (106), and healthcare (94). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,340/mo in Cary and $2,200/mo in Long Beach, the annual rent difference is approximately $10,320.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $51,600.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $382,000.0 difference in median home prices between Cary 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: Cary vs Long Beach
Choosing between Cary 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 Cary 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.