📊 Lifestyle Match
Visualizing the tradeoffs between Long Beach and Philadelphia
Head-to-Head Analysis
Long Beach vs Philadelphia
Detailed breakdown of cost of living, income potential, and lifestyle metrics.
📋 The Details
Line-by-line data comparison.
| Category / Metric | Long Beach | Philadelphia |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Overview | ||
| Median Income | $81,606 | $60,302 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5% | 4.7% |
| Housing Market | ||
| Median Home Price | $895,000 | $270,375 |
| Price per SqFt | $615 | $204 |
| Monthly Rent (1BR) | $2,006 | $1,451 |
| Housing Cost Index | 173.0 | 117.8 |
| Cost of Living | ||
| Groceries Index | 107.9 | 100.3 |
| Gas Price (Gallon) | $3.98 | $3.40 |
| Safety & Lifestyle | ||
| Violent Crime (per 100k) | 587.0 | 726.5 |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 36.8% | 35.7% |
| Air Quality (AQI) | 52 | 40 |
Expert Verdict
AI-generated analysis based on current data.
Alright, let's cut through the noise. You're standing at a crossroads, and the signs point to two wildly different directions: Long Beach, California and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
This isn't just about a zip code; it's a lifestyle choice. One is a sun-soaked, coastal city that feels like a perpetual summer vacation. The other is a gritty, historic powerhouse that hits you with a cheesesteak and a history lesson. As your relocation expert, my job is to give you the unvarnished truth so you don't make a decision you'll regret in six months.
We're going to break this down like a heavyweight fight. Let's get into it.
The Vibe Check: Golden State Chill vs. East Coast Grit
First, let's talk about the soul of these cities.
Long Beach is the cool, laid-back cousin of Los Angeles. It’s got that salty air, a massive port, and a vibe that screams "I'll get to it, but first, let's catch this sunset." It’s diverse, artsy, and has a strong maritime identity. You're trading seasons for a perpetual 70-degree dream, but you're also signing up for that distinct Southern California hustle where everyone seems to be an aspiring something. It's for the person who wants the California dream without the $4 million price tag of Santa Monica.
Philadelphia, on the other hand, is pure, unfiltered East Coast. It’s a city of neighborhoods, each with its own personality. It’s loud, proud, and unapologetically authentic. You can feel the history in the cobblestones of Old City and the passion at a Sixers game. It’s a city of workers, thinkers, and fighters. Philly is for the person who craves seasons, wants a real city feel (think rowhouses, not sprawling suburbs), and isn't afraid of a little grit.
- Go to Long Beach if: You need sunshine to function, love the ocean, and want a more relaxed, California-casual lifestyle.
- Go to Philly if: You want four real seasons, a deep sense of history, and a city with world-class culture that feels grounded and accessible.
The Dollar Power: Where Does Your Money Work Harder?
Let's talk about the elephant in the room: money. This is where the "sticker shock" can be a real dealbreaker. We're going to assume a hypothetical salary of $100,000 to see how far it gets you in each city, factoring in that sweet, sweet Texas-style 0% income tax. (Correction: Long Beach is in California, which has high income taxes. Philadelphia is in Pennsylvania, which has a flat state income tax of 3.07%.) Let's correct that. California has high taxes; Pennsylvania has a much more manageable rate. This is a huge factor.
Cost of Living Breakdown
Here’s a look at the monthly nuts and bolts, using the Philadelphia index as our baseline (100).
| Category | Long Beach (Index 156.3) | Philadelphia (Index 102.5) | The Takeaway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | $2,006 | $1,451 | Philly wins, saving you $555/month. |
| Utilities | ~$200 (mild weather) | ~$150 (seasonal) | Close, but Long Beach edges out Philly on heating/cooling. |
| Groceries | ~25% higher | Baseline | Your grocery bill will be noticeably heftier in LB. |
| Overall | ~56% more expensive | Baseline | This is the bottom line. |
Salary Wars: The $100k Test
Okay, let's put on our accountant hats.
In Philadelphia, earning $100,000 puts you well above the median income. After state (3.07%) and federal taxes, your take-home is roughly $75,000. Your rent is $1,451, leaving you with a hefty amount for everything else. You’ll feel prosperous. You can afford to eat out, save, and maybe even buy a place.
Now, let's hop over to Long Beach. That same $100,000 salary gets absolutely hammered by California's progressive income tax. Your take-home drops to around $68,000. And your rent is $2,006. That's a difference of over $6,700 a year in take-home pay and an extra $6,660 a year in rent right off the bat.
The Verdict: Your money goes significantly further in Philadelphia. You get more purchasing power, more space, and a lower tax burden. In Long Beach, you're paying a premium for the weather and the location.
💰 The Dollar Power Winner: Philadelphia
It's not even close. The combination of lower taxes and significantly cheaper housing means your $100k feels like a $140k lifestyle in Philly compared to Long Beach. If "bang for your buck" is a priority, Philly has your back.
The Housing Market: Renting vs. Buying
This is where the dream starts to get real.
Long Beach is, for now, a renter's market. The median home price data is tricky here, but the Housing Index of 156.3 tells you everything you need to know: real estate is brutally expensive. With a median income of $81,606, the gap between what people earn and what homes cost is a chasm. Buying is a distant dream for most, and competition for rentals is fierce. You're often competing with people who moved from more expensive parts of LA.
Philadelphia is a different beast. The Housing Index of 102.5 is much closer to the national average. The median home price of $285,000 is actually attainable for a household earning a decent wage. This is a buyer's market in many respects. You can find a classic rowhouse for sale that has character for days. Renting is easier and cheaper, but the real opportunity here is in ownership. You can actually build equity here without needing a venture capitalist's salary.
🏠 The Housing Winner: Philadelphia
Philly offers a path to ownership that Long Beach has all but closed for the average person. You get more square footage, more character, and a mortgage payment that won't make you faint.
The Dealbreakers: Quality of Life
This is the stuff that doesn't show up on a spreadsheet but will define your daily happiness.
Traffic & Commute
- Long Beach: You're in the LA metro. "The 405" and "The 710" are words that will haunt your dreams. Traffic is a part of life. You'll spend hours in your car. Public transit (the Blue Line) is decent but getting across the sprawling region is a time-suck.
- Philadelphia: It's a dense, East Coast city. Traffic can be gnarly, but it's more concentrated. The real advantage is walkability and public transit. SEPTA and the walkable grid mean you can live a full life without a car. This is a massive, underrated advantage.
Weather
- Long Beach: The data says 48.0°F average, but that's misleading. It's the mildness. You get sunshine, low humidity, and a breeze. The "dealbreaker" here is the lack of seasons and the marine layer (gray skies in the morning).
- Philadelphia: The data says 30.0°F average. That's the reality. You get four distinct seasons: beautiful autumns, slushy/snowy winters, glorious springs, and hot, humid summers. If you hate being cold, Philly is a non-starter.
Crime & Safety
Let's be brutally honest. Both cities have crime rates above the national average.
- Long Beach Violent Crime: 587.0 per 100k people.
- Philadelphia Violent Crime: 726.5 per 100k people.
Statistically, Long Beach is safer. However, this is highly neighborhood-dependent in both cities. You can find incredibly safe, family-friendly blocks in Philly and sketchy pockets of Long Beach. The key is to research the specific neighborhood you're moving to. Don't just look at the city-wide number.
☀️ The Weather & Lifestyle Winner: It's a Tie (You Pick Your Poison)
This is a personal preference question. Do you want mild, sunny weather with no seasons (Long Beach), or do you want four real seasons, even if that means shoveling snow (Philadelphia)? There is no wrong answer, only your answer.
The Final Verdict: Who Should Pack Their Bags?
After weighing the data, the culture, and the daily realities, here’s my final breakdown.
Winner for Families: Philadelphia
You get more house for your money, better access to public schools (in certain districts), walkable neighborhoods, and a lower cost of living that reduces financial stress. The history and culture are a great backdrop for raising kids.
Winner for Singles / Young Professionals: Philadelphia
The social scene is vibrant, the cost of entry is low, and the city is packed with people in their 20s and 30s. You can afford to live alone or with roommates without being rent-poor. The networking and career opportunities in biotech, finance, and healthcare are massive.
Winner for Retirees: Philadelphia
This might surprise you, but it's about the Benjamins. On a fixed income, your nest egg lasts years longer in Philly. The city is walkable, has excellent medical facilities, and cultural enrichment is abundant and often free or cheap. Long Beach's high costs can drain a retirement fund quickly.
Final Scorecard: Pros & Cons
Long Beach, CA
- Pros:
- The Weather: It's world-class for a reason. Mild and sunny almost every day.
- The Coast: Ocean access is part of daily life, not a special trip.
- Diversity & Culture: A true melting pot with amazing food and a vibrant arts scene.
- Proximity to LA: You get access to a global city's assets without living in the heart of it.
- Cons:
- Cost of Living: It's punishingly expensive. Everything costs more.
- Taxes: California will take a significant chunk of your income.
- Traffic: It's a daily grind that can steal hours of your life.
- The Housing Wall: Buying a home feels like an impossible dream for most.
Philadelphia, PA
- Pros:
- Affordability: Your money works harder here, period.
- Path to Ownership: You can actually buy a home and build wealth.
- History & Culture: It's a world-class city for museums, food, and history.
- Walkability & Transit: You can ditch your car and still have a great life.
- Cons:
- The Weather: Winters are cold and gray. Summers can be brutally humid.
- Crime: It's a real issue that you need to navigate with neighborhood research.
- Grit: It's not polished. If you want pristine, manicured suburbs, this ain't it.
- City Services: Philly can feel a bit rough around the edges, and bureaucracy is a beast.