⚖️ City Comparison

Green Bay vs Long Beach

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data

Green Bay

Wisconsin
98
Average
$344,000
Median Home
$1,320/mo
Median Rent
$53,000
Median Income

Long Beach

California
155
Very Expensive
$700,000
Median Home
$2,200/mo
Median Rent
$60,567
Median Income

💡 The Verdict

37% Cheaper

Green Bay is 37% cheaper than Long Beach overall. A $75,000 salary in Green Bay is equivalent to $118,622 in Long Beach.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values for Green Bay (left) vs Long Beach (right). National average = 100.

Housing
104
Housing
236
Groceries
94
Groceries
106
Utilities
99
Utilities
114
Transportation
95
Transportation
118
Healthcare
100
Healthcare
103

Detailed Price Comparison

Estimated item-level prices in Green Bay versus Long Beach. Differences shown from Green Bay perspective.

ItemGreen BayLong BeachDifference
1-Bed Rent$940/mo$1,580/mo$-640.00
2-Bed Rent$1,320/mo$2,200/mo$-880.00
3-Bed Rent$1,760/mo$2,950/mo$-1190.00
Bread (loaf)$2.80$3.14$-0.34
Milk (gallon)$3.69$4.19$-0.50
Eggs (dozen)$3.24$3.34$-0.10
Coffee (latte)$5.37$5.87$-0.50
Gas (gallon)$3.30$3.71$-0.41
Restaurant Meal$16.55$20.86$-4.31

💰 Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Green Bay has the same purchasing power as $118,622 in Long Beach.

Conversely, $75,000 in Long Beach equals $47,419 in Green Bay.

💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison

Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.

$53,662
Green Bay (Wisconsin)
$52,987
Long Beach (California)

The $675 difference is driven by California having a higher state income tax rate. Wisconsin details → · California details →

⚙️ Customize Your Comparison

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98 vs 155

Reading These Numbers: Green Bay (98) vs Long Beach (155)

Green Bay at 98 is 2% below 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 Green Bay, the composite index of 98 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 104, followed by groceries (94), utilities (99), transportation (95), and healthcare (100). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.

For renters: With median rents of $1,320/mo in Green Bay and $2,200/mo in Long Beach, the annual rent difference is approximately $10,560.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $52,800.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.

For homebuyers: The $356,000.0 difference in median home prices between Green Bay 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: Green Bay vs Long Beach

Choosing between Green Bay 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.

Long-term affordability in Green Bay versus Long Beach depends partly on cost trajectory. Cities experiencing rapid population growth tend to see costs rise faster than established metros where supply has caught up with demand. While our index captures current conditions, consider whether the city trending cheaper today might converge toward average over the next five to ten years as more people discover it. Our quarterly updates help track these shifts over time.