City comparison
No. Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 147 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Pittsburgh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,261 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Long Beach and Pittsburgh. Long Beach averages 71°F while Pittsburgh averages 51°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,871 versus $1,261.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Pittsburgh 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. Pittsburgh at $1,261 average has pockets that run $1,061 and others at $1,661: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Long Beach and Pittsburgh are 2,137 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, down $610 a month (33%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, down $21,688 (25%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 158 in Pittsburgh, down 29 points (16%).
The move
Pittsburgh and Long Beach are 2,137 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $610 a month (48%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $21,688 (33%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 187 in Long Beach, up 29 points (18%).
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Pittsburgh, PA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Long Beach and Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
33% cheaper
Pittsburgh rent is 33% cheaper than Long Beach
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Pittsburgh
Winner$1,261/mo
Typical rent runs $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Pittsburgh is 33% cheaper. That's roughly $610/month back in your pocket ($7,320/year). Over five years that's $36,600 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, Pittsburgh is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
33% higher
Long Beach's median income is 33% higher than Pittsburgh
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Pittsburgh
$65,742
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $65,742 in Pittsburgh, so typical pay runs 33% higher in Long Beach (about $21,688 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. Pittsburgh can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
16% lower crime
Pittsburgh's crime index is 16% lower than Long Beach
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 16% lower in Pittsburgh. 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, Pittsburgh 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
64% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 64% more comfortable than Pittsburgh
Long Beach
Winner71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Pittsburgh
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Long Beach averages about 71°F (77°F highs); Pittsburgh averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Long Beach sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Pittsburgh averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Long Beach scores 64% 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 Pittsburgh if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
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 33% higher ($87,430), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 71°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Pittsburgh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 33% cheaper here at about $1,261 a month. Choose Pittsburgh if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pittsburgh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 16% lower than Long Beach (158 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
Rent is the clearest fork: Pittsburgh at $1,261/month versus $1,871 in Long Beach ($610 apart). Long Beach median income is $87,430 against $65,742 in Pittsburgh, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Pittsburgh rent at $1,261/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 $65,742 in Pittsburgh.
Pick Pittsburgh when shaving $610 off rent at $1,261/month is the priority. Otherwise, Long Beach's case rests on $1,871/month rent with $87,430 local income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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