2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Arcata, CA vs Long Beach, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Long Beach or is it cheaper to live in Arcata?
- Long Beach is 49.7% more expensive than Arcata.

Which city has more affordable housing, Long Beach or Arcata?
- Long Beach housing costs are 86.2% more expensive than Arcata housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Arcata or is Health Care more affordable in Long Beach.
- Health related expenses are 26.3% less in Long Beach.
 Arcata, CALong Beach, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock161.7100
 Food & Groceries101.7  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock86.7100
 Housing136.4  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$739,900$338,100
 Utilities88  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock157.9100
 Miscellaneous117.1  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Arcata    17 Reviews

Pros: Nature hikes Cons: One of highest crime rates in the nation. Opioid epidemic going on (you’ll regularly witness drug deals and ppl doing drugs) No  More

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It takes a special set of preferences to select Arcata. Is this you? - You love clouds and fog. You are happy if you see the sun maybe 10-20 times a year. - Chilly  More

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Over 11 years ago

I've lived in Humboldt for over 30 yrs and know all the areas well. Arcata is the jewel of Humboldt due to having a university and many liberal creative people. There is  More

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Reviews for Long Beach    45 Reviews

Local born and bred. This place is going down the drain. Crime is up, housing is up, yuppies finding nothing wrong with it since they want to validate spending 3k on a 2  More

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Angelique · 
Over 5 years ago

I love Long Beach. I especially shoreline village and the aquarium of the pacific. The only big problem here (for me) is crime. Otherwise, nice  More

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Over 7 years ago

The cost of living is extremely high and there are way too many apartments or multi unit homes which have no parking. But with everyone living on top of each other it  More

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