City comparison
No. St Petersburg's crime index is 165 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 167 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Long Beach and 2023 FBI data for St Petersburg.
St Petersburg is cheaper. Median rent is $1,663 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
The income gap between Long Beach and St Petersburg is significant: $87,430 median household versus $75,192. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,871 in Long Beach and $1,663 in St Petersburg.
This is a genuine split. Long Beach wins on the job market and St Petersburg 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.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Long Beach and St Petersburg are 2,134 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,663 a month in St Petersburg, down $208 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $75,192 in St Petersburg, down $12,238 (14%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 165 in St Petersburg, down 22 points (12%).
The move
St Petersburg and Long Beach are 2,134 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,663 a month in St Petersburg to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $208 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $75,192 in St Petersburg to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $12,238 (16%).
The crime index goes from 165 in St Petersburg to 187 in Long Beach, up 22 points (13%).
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Petersburg, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Long Beach and St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
St Petersburg rent is 11% cheaper than Long Beach
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
St Petersburg
Winner$1,663/mo
Typical rent runs $1,663 a month in St Petersburg versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so St Petersburg is 11% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,496, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. St Petersburg still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Long Beach.
Planning to buy in St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
16% higher
Long Beach's median income is 16% higher than St Petersburg
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
St Petersburg
$75,192
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $75,192 in St Petersburg, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Long Beach (about $12,238 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. St Petersburg can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
12% lower crime
St Petersburg's crime index is 12% lower than Long Beach
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg
Winner165 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg's crime index is 165 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 12% lower in St Petersburg. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in St Petersburg, 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
Neck and neck
Long Beach and St Petersburg are about even on typical weather.
Long Beach
71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Petersburg
77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Long Beach averages about 71°F (77°F highs); St Petersburg averages about 77°F (82°F highs). Long Beach sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Petersburg 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 16% 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
St Petersburg is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% cheaper here at about $1,663 a month. Choose St Petersburg if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
St Petersburg is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 12% lower than Long Beach (165 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
Pay is the headline: Long Beach median income is $87,430 versus $75,192 in St Petersburg (14% higher). Rent still runs $1,871/month in Long Beach and $1,663/month in St Petersburg, so the wage edge only helps if your offer matches Long Beach rates.
Long Beach still pays more locally ($87,430 median income vs $75,192), which can offset the lease if your field pays Long Beach rates.
Typical rent stays $1,663 in St Petersburg and $1,871 in Long Beach.
Long Beach clears the bar on local pay in this dataset. St Petersburg deserves a serious look only when keeping rent near $1,663/month beats chasing $87,430 median income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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