Is Long Beach cheaper than Minneapolis?

No. Minneapolis is cheaper: typical rent is $1,371 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach — 27% lower. Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach compared with $80,846 in Minneapolis, so Long Beach has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Long Beach or Minneapolis?

Minneapolis is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 122 in Long Beach — 74% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Long Beach or Minneapolis?

School composites are close: A- in Long Beach and A- in Minneapolis. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Long Beach, CA vs Minneapolis, MN

Long Beach, CA versus Minneapolis, MN is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,871 a month in Long Beach and $1,371 in Minneapolis, and median household income lands at $87,430 versus $80,846. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Long Beach takes job market, while Minneapolis takes affordability, safety, and weather. The widest gap is crime index, where Minneapolis leads by 74% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Long Beach can feel further apart than Long Beach and Minneapolis do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Long Beach and Minneapolis reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Long Beach report Full Minneapolis report

Long Beach, CA

Rent: $1,871/mo
Median income: $87,430
Crime index: 122
Schools: A-
Weather: 79°F

Minneapolis, MN

Rent: $1,371/mo
Median income: $80,846
Crime index: 32
Schools: A-
Weather: 72°F

Rent

27% cheaper

Minneapolis rent is 27% cheaper than Long Beach

Long Beach

$1,871/mo

Minneapolis

Winner

$1,371/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,371 a month in Minneapolis versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Minneapolis is 27% cheaper. That's roughly $500/month back in your pocket — $6,000/year. Over five years that's $30,000 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Long Beach, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Minneapolis is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

8% higher

Long Beach's median income is 8% higher than Minneapolis

Long Beach

Winner

$87,430

Minneapolis

$80,846

What this means for your life

Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $80,846 in Minneapolis, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Long Beach — about $6,584 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

74% lower crime

Minneapolis's crime index is 74% lower than Long Beach

Long Beach

122 (100 = avg)

Minneapolis

Winner

32 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Minneapolis's crime index is 32 versus 122 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 74% lower in Minneapolis. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Minneapolis is the easier city. Long Beach can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Long Beach and Minneapolis are about even on school scores.

Long Beach

A- · 84/100

Minneapolis

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Long Beach, A- in Minneapolis). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

22% more comfortable

Minneapolis weather is 22% more comfortable than Long Beach

Long Beach

79°F typical

Minneapolis

Winner

72°F typical

What this means for your life

Minneapolis scores 22% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 79°F in Long Beach and 72°F in Minneapolis. Long Beach reads as warm weather most of the year; Minneapolis reads as warm weather most of the year. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Minneapolis is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Long Beach can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Long Beach

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Long Beach is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 8% higher here ($87,430). Start with Long Beach if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Long Beach report →

Fit check

Who should choose Minneapolis

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Minneapolis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 27% cheaper here at about $1,371 a month. Choose Minneapolis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Minneapolis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (72°F) beat Long Beach on this page's weather index by 22%. Long Beach may pay more or cost less, but Minneapolis is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Minneapolis is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 74% lower than Long Beach (32 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.

Open the Minneapolis report →

Bottom line

Long Beach vs Minneapolis, called

If safety is your priority, Minneapolis is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Long Beach pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Minneapolis offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Long Beach vs Minneapolis FAQ

Is Long Beach cheaper than Minneapolis?: No. Minneapolis is cheaper: typical rent is $1,371 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach — 27% lower. Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach compared with $80,846 in Minneapolis, so Long Beach has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Long Beach or Minneapolis?: Minneapolis is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 122 in Long Beach — 74% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Long Beach or Minneapolis?: School composites are close: A- in Long Beach and A- in Minneapolis. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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