City comparison
No. Honolulu's crime index is 80 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 57 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Honolulu is cheaper. Median rent is $1,823 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
Safety is where Long Beach and Honolulu split most clearly. Honolulu scores 107 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,871 in Long Beach and $1,823 in Honolulu.
This is a genuine split. Long Beach wins on the job market and Honolulu wins on cost of living 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 crime gap is citywide. Honolulu has rougher pockets and Long Beach has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Long Beach and Honolulu are 2,560 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,823 a month in Honolulu, down $48 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $86,504 in Honolulu, down $926 (1%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 80 in Honolulu, down 107 points (57%).
The move
Honolulu and Long Beach are 2,560 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,823 a month in Honolulu to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $48 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $86,504 in Honolulu to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $926 (1%).
The crime index goes from 80 in Honolulu to 187 in Long Beach, up 107 points (134%).
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Honolulu, HI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Long Beach and Honolulu? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
3% cheaper
Honolulu rent is 3% cheaper than Long Beach
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Honolulu
Winner$1,823/mo
Typical rent runs $1,823 a month in Honolulu versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Honolulu is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $48, or $576 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Honolulu? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Long Beach's median income is 1% higher than Honolulu
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Honolulu
$86,504
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $86,504 in Honolulu, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Long Beach (about $926 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
57% lower crime
Honolulu's crime index is 57% lower than Long Beach
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
Honolulu
Winner80 (100 = avg)
Honolulu's crime index is 80 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 57% lower in Honolulu. 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, Honolulu is the easier city. Long Beach can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Long Beach and Honolulu are about even on typical weather.
Long Beach
76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Honolulu
77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs); Honolulu averages about 77°F (82°F highs). Long Beach sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Honolulu sits near 77°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
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 1% higher here ($87,430). Start with Long Beach if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Honolulu is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 3% cheaper here at about $1,823 a month. Choose Honolulu if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Honolulu is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 57% lower than Long Beach (80 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
Long Beach carries the heavier crime signal on this page (41/100 safety vs 67/100 in Honolulu). That 26-point spread matters more than the $48 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
With only $48 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $86,504 in Honolulu.
Pick Honolulu when you want the stronger safety signal (67/100). Otherwise, Long Beach's case rests on a Long Beach ZIP you trust at $1,871 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Honolulu when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Long Beach and Honolulu, plus other cities in CA and HI.
