City Comparison

Long Beach vs Newport News

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Long Beach

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

Newport News

Virginia
92
Below Average
$261,000
Median Home
$1,175/mo
Median Rent
$69,600
Median Income

The Verdict

68.5%

The cost gap between these cities is 68.5%, with Newport News being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Long Beach has equivalent purchasing power to $44,516 in Newport News.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
236
Long Beach
75
Newport News
Groceries
106
Long Beach
99
Newport News
Utilities
114
Long Beach
104
Newport News
Transportation
118
Long Beach
96
Newport News
Healthcare
103
Long Beach
111
Newport News

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Long Beach has the same purchasing power as $44,516 in Newport News.

Conversely, $75,000 in Newport News equals $126,359 in Long Beach.

Living in Long Beach vs Newport News

Housing Costs

Long Beach's housing index of 236 is higher Newport News's 75, translating to median home prices of $700,000 vs $261,000. The $439,000 difference in home prices means roughly $28,536 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,200/mo in Long Beach compared to $1,175/mo in Newport News, a monthly difference of $1,025.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 106 in Long Beach and 99 in Newport News. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $504/month in Long Beach vs $470/month in Newport News. Newport News offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $408/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 114 in Long Beach and 104 in Newport News. Monthly utility bills average approximately $456 in Long Beach vs $416 in Newport News. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 103 in Long Beach and 111 in Newport News. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $60,567 in Long Beach and $69,600 in Newport News. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $39,075 and $75,652 respectively. Newport News residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,413/month to housing in Long Beach vs $1,624/month in Newport News. In Long Beach, median rent of $2,200/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Newport News, median rent of $1,175/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 161 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Newport News is 68.5% more affordable overall with an index of 92 vs 155.
A $75,000 salary in Long Beach has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $44,516 in Newport News, based on the cost of living difference.
Long Beach's housing index is 236 with median homes at $700,000, while Newport News's is 75 with median homes at $261,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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