Salary Needed to Live in Long Beach as a Single
A single adult living independently needs approximately $79,924/year to live comfortably in Long Beach, CA, including 10% savings.
Direct Answer
A single person needs about $79,924/year to live comfortably in Long Beach, CA. The bare-minimum salary is $68,975/year, but the comfortable figure includes a 10% savings target and a monthly after-tax budget of $4,736.
The minimum scenario leaves about $4,196/mo after tax and no planned savings. The comfortable scenario uses $6,660/mo gross pay to cover expenses, taxes, and a savings buffer.
Hybrid salary estimateBLS, HUD, ACS inputsLast verified May 2026
Comfortable Salary
$79,924
with 10% savings
Bare Minimum
$68,975
$5,748/mo gross, no savings buffer
Monthly Expenses
$4,196
18% above national avg
Detailed Monthly Budget for a Single in Long Beach
| Expense | Long Beach | Nat'l Avg | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio/1BR Rent | $1,310 | $1,351 | -3% |
| Groceries | $345 | $207 | +67% |
| Utilities | $224 | $169 | +33% |
| Transportation | $427 | $316 | +35% |
| Car Insurance | $197 | $215 | -8% |
| Health Insurance | $693 | $642 | +8% |
| Internet | $101 | $65 | +55% |
| Phone | $132 | $85 | +55% |
| Dining & Social | $465 | $300 | +55% |
| Entertainment | $186 | $120 | +55% |
| Personal Care | $116 | $75 | +55% |
| Total Monthly | $4,196 | $3,545 | +18% |
How We Calculated the Salary
Monthly expenses:$4,196
Target savings (10%):$540/mo
Monthly after-tax needed:$4,736
Effective tax rate:27%
Gross annual salary needed:$79,924
What Drives the Salary Number?
Housing
$1,310
Studio/1BR rent is 31% of this monthly budget.
Taxes
27%
Estimated federal plus CA state tax reserve used to convert take-home needs into gross salary.
Savings target
10%
$540/mo is reserved for savings so the salary is not just break-even.
Local index
155/100
Long Beach is well above the national baseline; the model adjusts baseline spending by local rent and cost data.
Compare Salary Needed in Nearby west Cities
Salary Planning Checklist
- Keep studio/1br housing near $1,310/mo or adjust the salary target upward.
- Budget $1,000/mo for persona-specific costs such as Internet and Phone.
- Use $68,975/year as the survival floor and $79,924/year as the healthier negotiation target.
Other Household Types in Long Beach
Related Pages
FAQ
What salary does a single person need in Long Beach?
A single person needs approximately $79,924/year ($6,660/month gross) to live comfortably in Long Beach with a 10% savings rate.
How much is rent for a single person in Long Beach?
A studio/1br in Long Beach costs approximately $1,310/month, which is the largest single expense at 31% of the total budget.
Is Long Beach affordable for a single person?
Long Beach is above the national average for single person living costs, requiring 18% more salary than the US median.