Question 1

Is Detroit or Long Beach cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Detroit, MI is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $1,234/month less than in Long Beach, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,411/mo in Detroit versus $2,903/mo in Long Beach.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Detroit vs Long Beach?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $78,500/year before tax in Detroit, MI and $105,000/year in Long Beach, CA — a difference of about $26,500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Detroit or Long Beach cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Detroit, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $9,052/month in Detroit and $12,156/month in Long Beach, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Detroit or Long Beach?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Detroit costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Detroit58	Long Beach48
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,078	$5,312
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$9,052	$12,156
Salary for comfort	$78,500/yr	$105,000/yr
Typical rent	$1,411	$2,903
Median home value	$76,800	$762,200
Median household income	$39,575	$83,969
Unemployment	10.7%	5.2%
Housing score	61	4
Jobs score	36	22
Safety score	18	41
Climate score	79	100
Amenities score	82	91
Population	636.6K	458.5K
Summer high / winter low	83° / 20°	82° / 46°

Detroit, MI vs Long Beach, CA