City comparison
Yes. Miami's crime index is 140 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Miami is cheaper. Median rent is $1,758 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
The income gap between Miami and Long Beach is significant: $62,462 median household versus $87,430. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,758 in Miami and $1,871 in Long Beach.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Miami 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 crime gap is citywide. Miami has rougher pockets and Long Beach has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Miami and Long Beach are 2,331 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,758 a month in Miami to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $113 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $62,462 in Miami to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $24,968 (40%).
The crime index goes from 140 in Miami to 187 in Long Beach, up 47 points (34%).
The move
Long Beach and Miami are 2,331 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,758 a month in Miami, down $113 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $62,462 in Miami, down $24,968 (29%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 140 in Miami, down 47 points (25%).
Miami, FL
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 Miami and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Miami rent is 6% cheaper than Long Beach
Miami
Winner$1,758/mo
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,758 a month in Miami versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Miami is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $113, or $1,356 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 Miami? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
40% higher
Long Beach's median income is 40% higher than Miami
Miami
$62,462
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $62,462 in Miami, so typical pay runs 40% higher in Long Beach (about $24,968 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. Miami can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
25% lower crime
Miami's crime index is 25% lower than Long Beach
Miami
Winner140 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
Miami's crime index is 140 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 25% lower in Miami. 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, Miami 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
6% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 6% more comfortable than Miami
Miami
81°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 94/100
Long Beach
Winner76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Miami averages about 81°F (83°F highs); Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs). Miami averages around 81°F. Long Beach sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Long Beach scores 6% 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 Miami 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
Miami is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 6% cheaper here at about $1,758 a month. Choose Miami if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Miami is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 25% lower than Long Beach (140 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 40% 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
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: Long Beach at $87,430 median income versus $62,462 in Miami. Housing ($1,758 in Miami, $1,871 in Long Beach) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
Safety still diverges (50/100 in Miami vs 41/100 in Long Beach), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 81°F in Miami and 76°F in Long Beach.
If local pay drives your move, Long Beach is the stronger match ($87,430 median income against $62,462). If an employer or family tie already points to Miami, treat $1,758/month rent and $62,462 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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