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

Change Cities
Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Waterloo or is it cheaper to live in Long Beach?
- Waterloo is 53.2% less expensive than Long Beach.

Which city has more affordable housing, Waterloo or Long Beach?
- Waterloo housing costs are 84.3% less expensive than Long Beach housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Long Beach or is Health Care more affordable in Waterloo.
- Health related expenses are 20.9% more in Waterloo.
 Long Beach, CAWaterloo, IAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock75.7100
 Food & Groceries101.9  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock104.8100
 Housing254.0  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$121,000$338,100
 Utilities97  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock64.3100
 Miscellaneous133.4  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
DID YOU KNOW?

In order to keep your same standard of living your salary can vary greatly - whether you buy or rent, require child care, or want to include taxes. This is why we are now offering a Premium Salary & Cost of Living Calculator.

Our Premium Calculator Includes:
- Compare Cities cost of living across 9 different categories
- Personal salary calculations can optionally include Home ownership or rental, Child care, and Taxes (with details on state and local sales, income, property and automobile taxes)
- Includes the cost of Child Care for toddlers or infants, at a day care center or home care
- Grocery prices, detailed for 29 staple items in six categories
- Difference in cost of Utilities, including electric, gas and fuel oil
- Health Care Premiums and hospital expenses for major surgeries
- Taxes, Fees and Expenses you should know about, such as local car insurance rates, automobile taxes and registration, commuting costs.
- and 100s of other items you should consider before you relocate

Upgrade to Premium | See Example

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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Long Beach

Reviews for Waterloo    5 Reviews

The bike racks recently installed on the MET buses was a great idea for a community that has numerous bike riders and  More

   |    Reply

Over 17 years ago

Unless you're into getting wasted on a regular basis there's not a lot to do here. Most people barhop for fun. Being someone who doesn't drink and doesn't enjoy being  More

   |    Reply

Over 17 years ago

So the weather is emotional here - on and off during the summer its hot and rainy, yet during the fall it is quite often beautiful. Winters can be long, and spring can  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Waterloo


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.