City comparison
Yes. Phoenix's crime index is 174 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 216 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Phoenix is cheaper. Median rent is $1,582 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
Phoenix and Long Beach are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,582 in Phoenix and $1,871 in Long Beach, and median household income lands at $81,332 versus $87,430. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Phoenix 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.
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
Phoenix and Long Beach are 353 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,582 a month in Phoenix to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $289 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $81,332 in Phoenix to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $6,098 (7%).
The crime index goes from 174 in Phoenix to 187 in Long Beach, up 13 points (7%).
The move
Long Beach and Phoenix are 353 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,582 a month in Phoenix, down $289 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $81,332 in Phoenix, down $6,098 (7%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 174 in Phoenix, down 13 points (7%).
Phoenix, AZ
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 Phoenix and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Phoenix rent is 15% cheaper than Long Beach
Phoenix
Winner$1,582/mo
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,582 a month in Phoenix versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Phoenix is 15% 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 $3,468, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Phoenix 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 Phoenix? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
7% higher
Long Beach's median income is 7% higher than Phoenix
Phoenix
$81,332
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $81,332 in Phoenix, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Long Beach (about $6,098 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
7% lower crime
Phoenix's crime index is 7% lower than Long Beach
Phoenix
Winner174 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
Phoenix's crime index is 174 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 7% lower in Phoenix. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Phoenix, 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
3% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 3% more comfortable than Phoenix
Phoenix
81°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 97/100
Long Beach
Winner76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Phoenix averages about 81°F (87°F highs); Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs). Phoenix 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 3% 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 Phoenix 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
Phoenix is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,582 a month. Choose Phoenix if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Phoenix is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 7% lower than Long Beach (174 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 7% 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
On rent alone, Phoenix undercuts Long Beach by $289/month ($1,582 vs $1,871). I would not pick Long Beach on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Phoenix rent at $1,582/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 $81,332 in Phoenix.
Between Phoenix and Long Beach, Phoenix is ahead on housing cost — $1,582/month rent against $1,871. Lean Long Beach instead when your $87,430 income offer in Long Beach outweighs saving $289/month in Phoenix.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Phoenix when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Phoenix and Long Beach, plus other cities in AZ and CA.
