City comparison
No. Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 293 in Albuquerque, and its violent crime index is 189 versus 320, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Albuquerque is cheaper. Median rent is $1,145 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
The cost gap between Albuquerque and Long Beach is the real story here. Albuquerque comes in 39% cheaper on typical rent ($1,145 vs $1,871), which over a year adds up to $8,712. Median household income runs $68,317 in Albuquerque and $87,430 in Long Beach.
This is a genuine split. Albuquerque wins on cost of living and Long Beach wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Albuquerque at $1,145 average has pockets that run $945 and others at $1,545: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Albuquerque and Long Beach are 663 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Albuquerque to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $726 a month (63%).
Median household income goes from $68,317 in Albuquerque to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $19,113 (28%).
The crime index goes from 293 in Albuquerque to 187 in Long Beach, down 106 points (36%).
The move
Long Beach and Albuquerque are 663 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,145 a month in Albuquerque, down $726 a month (39%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $68,317 in Albuquerque, down $19,113 (22%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 293 in Albuquerque, up 106 points (57%).
Albuquerque, NM
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Albuquerque and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
39% cheaper
Albuquerque rent is 39% cheaper than Long Beach
Albuquerque
Winner$1,145/mo
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,145 a month in Albuquerque versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Albuquerque is 39% cheaper. That's roughly $726/month back in your pocket ($8,712/year). Over five years that's $43,560 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Long Beach, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Albuquerque is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
28% higher
Long Beach's median income is 28% higher than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
$68,317
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $68,317 in Albuquerque, so typical pay runs 28% higher in Long Beach (about $19,113 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Long Beach is the stronger labor market on paper. Albuquerque can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
36% lower crime
Long Beach's crime index is 36% lower than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
293 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
Winner187 (100 = avg)
Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 293 in Albuquerque (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 36% lower in Long Beach. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Long Beach is the easier city. Albuquerque can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Albuquerque and Long Beach are about even on typical weather.
Albuquerque
65°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Long Beach
76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Albuquerque averages about 65°F (72°F highs); Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs). Albuquerque sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Long Beach sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Albuquerque
Albuquerque is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 39% cheaper here at about $1,145 a month. Choose Albuquerque if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Long Beach is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 28% higher here ($87,430). Start with Long Beach if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Long Beach is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 36% lower than Albuquerque (187 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,145/month in Albuquerque versus $1,871 in Long Beach. Median income reads $68,317 in Albuquerque and $87,430 in Long Beach, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Albuquerque rent at $1,145/month is still below Long Beach's $1,871, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $68,317 in Albuquerque.
If housing cost drives your move, Albuquerque is the stronger match ($1,145/month rent against $1,871). If an employer or family tie already points to Long Beach, treat $1,871/month rent and $87,430 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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