⚖️ City Comparison

Long Beach vs Twin Falls

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data

Long Beach

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

Twin Falls

Idaho
102
Average
$400,000
Median Home
$1,640/mo
Median Rent
$50,300
Median Income

💡 The Verdict

34% Cheaper

Twin Falls is 34% cheaper than Long Beach overall. A $75,000 salary in Long Beach is equivalent to $49,355 in Twin Falls.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values for Long Beach (left) vs Twin Falls (right). National average = 100.

Housing
236
Housing
122
Groceries
106
Groceries
98
Utilities
114
Utilities
97
Transportation
118
Transportation
106
Healthcare
103
Healthcare
103

Detailed Price Comparison

Estimated item-level prices in Long Beach versus Twin Falls. Differences shown from Long Beach perspective.

ItemLong BeachTwin FallsDifference
1-Bed Rent$1,580/mo$1,200/mo+$380.00
2-Bed Rent$2,200/mo$1,640/mo+$560.00
3-Bed Rent$2,950/mo$2,140/mo+$810.00
Bread (loaf)$3.14$2.67+$0.47
Milk (gallon)$4.19$3.70+$0.49
Eggs (dozen)$3.34$3.44$-0.10
Coffee (latte)$5.87$5.81+$0.06
Gas (gallon)$3.71$3.39+$0.32
Restaurant Meal$20.86$15.72+$5.14

💰 Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Long Beach has the same purchasing power as $49,355 in Twin Falls.

Conversely, $75,000 in Twin Falls equals $113,971 in Long Beach.

💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison

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

$52,987
Long Beach (California)
$53,287
Twin Falls (Idaho)

The $300 difference is driven by California having a higher state income tax rate. California details → · Idaho details →

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155 vs 102

Reading These Numbers: Long Beach (155) vs Twin Falls (102)

Long Beach at 155 is 55% above the US average, while Twin Falls at 102 is 2% above average. There is a meaningful cost gap between these two cities that affects day-to-day budgeting.

In Long Beach, the composite index of 155 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 236, followed by groceries (106), utilities (114), transportation (118), and healthcare (103). Housing is the primary cost driver here.

For renters: With median rents of $2,200/mo in Long Beach and $1,640/mo in Twin Falls, the annual rent difference is approximately $6,720.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $33,600.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.

For homebuyers: The $300,000.0 difference in median home prices between Long Beach and Twin Falls 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: Long Beach vs Twin Falls

Choosing between Long Beach and Twin Falls 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 Long Beach against Twin Falls, 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.