City comparison
Yes. Chicago's crime index is 167 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 139 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Chicago is cheaper. Median rent is $1,440 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Chicago and Long Beach. Chicago averages 53°F while Long Beach averages 76°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,440 versus $1,871.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Chicago costs less and Long Beach pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Chicago at $1,440 average has pockets that run $1,240 and others at $1,840: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Chicago and Long Beach are 1,747 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,440 a month in Chicago to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $431 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $77,902 in Chicago to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $9,528 (12%).
The crime index goes from 167 in Chicago to 187 in Long Beach, up 20 points (12%).
The move
Long Beach and Chicago are 1,747 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,440 a month in Chicago, down $431 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $77,902 in Chicago, down $9,528 (11%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 167 in Chicago, down 20 points (11%).
Chicago, IL
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 Chicago and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
23% cheaper
Chicago rent is 23% cheaper than Long Beach
Chicago
Winner$1,440/mo
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,440 a month in Chicago versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Chicago is 23% cheaper. That's roughly $431/month back in your pocket ($5,172/year). Over five years that's $25,860 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, Chicago is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Chicago? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
12% higher
Long Beach's median income is 12% higher than Chicago
Chicago
$77,902
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $77,902 in Chicago, so typical pay runs 12% higher in Long Beach (about $9,528 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. Chicago can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
11% lower crime
Chicago's crime index is 11% lower than Long Beach
Chicago
Winner167 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
Chicago's crime index is 167 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 11% lower in Chicago. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Chicago, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Long Beach. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
52% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 52% more comfortable than Chicago
Chicago
53°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 66/100
Long Beach
Winner76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Chicago averages about 53°F (60°F highs); Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs). Chicago averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Long Beach sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Long Beach scores 52% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Chicago if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Chicago is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 23% cheaper here at about $1,440 a month. Choose Chicago if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Chicago is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 11% lower than Long Beach (167 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 12% higher ($87,430), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 76°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Bottom line
Chicago (53°F) and Long Beach (76°F) are not interchangeable on climate — about 23°F apart on typical temperatures. Rent ($1,440 vs $1,871) and pay ($77,902 vs $87,430) still matter, yet most movers regret ignoring the forecast row.
Long Beach still pays more locally ($87,430 median income vs $77,902), which can offset the lease if your field pays Long Beach rates.
Safety scores read 44/100 in Chicago and 41/100 in Long Beach.
If climate drives your move, Chicago is the stronger match (53°F typical weather versus 76°F). 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.
Common questions
Ready to move to Chicago?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Chicago when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Chicago and Long Beach, plus other cities in IL and CA.
