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Long Beach: Travel guide, prices and free housing · 2026

Renters trade long commutes for coastal fog and steep leases, though a careful month can hold to $3,030 if you pick an apartment in Bixby Knolls instead of Belmont Shore.

Long Beach, California · CC BY-SA 4.0

Map of places
Monthly budget
≈ $3,067economy · ≈ $7,828 comfort
Housing
≈ $1,871
Food
≈ $627
Transit
≈ $569
Sources: 2 · As of September 10, 2026
Source: Cost of Living in Long Beach CA (2026) | CostLiving · Budget in Long Beach, CA: Single Adult (2026) | CostOfCity
Your first hour in town
Detailed Drivers sedan from Long Beach Airport
$150
Single ticket
$1.25
Local SIM card
$1
Sources: 3 · As of September 10, 2026
Source: Long Beach Airport Car Service (LGB) | Detailed Drivers · Fares · Where to Buy a Prepaid Sim Card for Long Beach in 2025 - eSIM.net
Getting around
Monthly pass
$65

Riders tap contactless cards, scan a regional TAP card or app, or pay with exact cash on board.

Price anchorsall prices
Coffee at the counter
$2
Lunch at a canteen
$12
Dinner out
$25
Room per month
≈ $1,832
SIM card
$1
Sources: 3 · As of September 10, 2026
Source: Cost of Living in Long Beach CA (2026) | CostLiving · Cost of Living in Long Beach, California. Jun 2026. Prices in Long Beach · Where to Buy a Prepaid Sim Card for Long Beach in 2025 - eSIM.net
What fits initineraries
1 day
Downtown Long Beach, Aquarium of the Pacific, Pine Avenue
3 days
Museum of Latin American Art, Marine Stadium, East Village
7 days
Walter Pyramid, Port of Long Beach, Catalina Landing
About the place

Long Beach operates as a working maritime center rather than an ordinary beach suburb.

The city grew from Tongva settlements and Spanish cattle ranchos into a massive maritime gateway. Oil discoveries and naval shipyards reshaped the shoreline, which now centers on one of the busiest container ports on the continent. Heavy freight moves inland along the Alameda Corridor trench, keeping industrial transport separated from coastal traffic. Everyday life unfolds alongside working docks rather than resort isolation.

Read on

Residential life divides between compact coastal quarters and sprawling northern districts. Belmont Shore and the East Village Arts District maintain walkable streets with independent storefronts, while Bixby Knolls provides quieter suburban avenues. The permanently moored Queen Mary and the Museum of Latin American Art anchor the cultural landscape, supported by public mural projects and an active regional symphony.

Residents quickly discover that relying solely on public transport requires planning. Long Beach Transit operates local bus routes and downtown shuttles, while light rail links the core directly to central regional hubs. Outside the downtown core, private vehicles remain essential for daily commuting and groceries. Seasonal water taxis serve the harbor, but crosstown journeys demand highway driving or multiple bus transfers.

Associations
  • Port of Long BeachA premier container shipping complex driving regional maritime trade.
  • Queen MaryThe historic ocean liner remains permanently berthed as a harbor hotel.
  • Car DependenceReaching outer neighborhoods requires driving due to limited bus coverage.
  • Museum of Latin American ArtA prominent institution dedicated to modern Latin American art.
  • A Line Light RailConnects the downtown transit center to regional rail networks.
Facts
  • The Port of Long Beach operates as one of the busiest maritime cargo facilities in the country.
  • The Queen Mary ocean liner is permanently berthed in the harbor as a floating hotel.
  • The Museum of Latin American Art focuses exclusively on modern and contemporary Latin American art.
  • Long Beach Transit operates a downtown shuttle service that does not charge passengers for local trips.
Source: Wikipedia · Wikivoyage

Money

Monthly budget and everyday prices

≈ $3,067
Room in a shared flat
≈ $1,871
Food, cooking at home
≈ $627
Monthly transit pass
≈ $569
Price examples
Coffee
$2
Lunch at a canteen
$12
Dinner at a café
$25
Single transit ticket
$1.25
Room, per month
$1,832
SIM card
$1
IEC ID points

Up to 50% of exchange programmes, internships and other IEC services can be paid with points.

+300for registering with IEC ID+100for signing in to TravelHub
Points programme rules
5 sources · As of September 10, 2026
Source: Cost of Living in Long Beach CA (2026) | CostLiving · Budget in Long Beach, CA: Single Adult (2026) | CostOfCity · Fares · Cost of Living in Long Beach, California. Jun 2026. Prices in Long Beach · Where to Buy a Prepaid Sim Card for Long Beach in 2025 - eSIM.net
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Getting there and staying

Flight, airport, hosts and rent

No free-housing hosts here yet.

From the airport to the centre
Detailed Drivers sedan from Long Beach Airport
$150
Step by step on arrival
  1. 01Activate mobile internet using an eSIM profile or a local SIM card.
  2. 02Withdraw domestic currency from an airport terminal ATM.
  3. 03Board the municipal bus outside the terminal to travel into downtown.
  4. 04Arrive at your lodging and complete the check-in process.
5 sources · As of September 18, 2026
Source: TravelHub · OurAirports (public domain) · Long Beach Airport Car Service (LGB) | Detailed Drivers · Where to Buy a Prepaid Sim Card for Long Beach in 2025 - eSIM.net · Fares

Visa and practicalities

Choose a passport

Set your passport — processing time, fee and documents differ between passports.

Internships, au pair and study programmes have a different visa category and a different set of documents. Applications go through CMO International Programmes.

IEC international programmes
Good to know
  • Downtown and shoreline parking spaces generally require fees rather than offering open street parking.
  • Bus operators require exact tender or transit smart cards, with no change returned by fareboxes.
  • Regional light rail trains passing through outer districts operate without assigned onboard security personnel.
3 more rules
  • Multiple lodging properties enforce strict prohibitions against smoking on the premises.
  • Hotels frequently enforce animal bans or require supplemental charges and animal size limits.
  • Certain dining spots require minimum spending amounts before accepting payment cards.
Small things
  • SIM card

    Carriers provide prepaid starter kits with data packages, while long-term residents subscribe to recurring monthly mobile plans.

  • eSIM

    Travelers can acquire digital plans online configured for the duration of the visit and wider domestic coverage.

  • Wi-Fi

    Accommodations provide wireless internet either complimentary or for an added charge, while fixed broadband is standard for apartment rentals.

Frequently asked
How do passengers travel between Long Beach and downtown Los Angeles on public transit?

The Metro A Line light rail connects Downtown Long Beach directly to Downtown Los Angeles and Union Station. Passengers can transfer along the route to connecting rail lines serving destinations such as Hollywood, Pasadena, and Santa Monica.

Source: Wikipedia · Wikivoyage
Which airports serve travelers heading to Long Beach?

Long Beach Airport is located directly within the city limits and accommodates domestic commercial flights. Travelers seeking broader flight selections or arriving internationally also utilize Los Angeles International Airport or John Wayne Airport.

Source: Wikivoyage
Is free public transit available in downtown Long Beach?

Long Beach Transit operates the complimentary Passport shuttle across the downtown district and the waterfront. The service stops at locations including the Aquarium of the Pacific, Pine Avenue, Shoreline Village, and the Queen Mary.

Source: Wikipedia · Wikivoyage
Does ferry transportation run from Long Beach to Santa Catalina Island?

Catalina Express provides scheduled passenger ferry trips directly to Santa Catalina Island. Departures embark from the Catalina Landing terminal located along the downtown waterfront.

Source: Wikipedia · Wikivoyage
Can guests sleep aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach?

The Queen Mary ocean liner remains docked permanently in the harbor as a functioning hotel. Accommodations include historic staterooms situated adjacent to the cruise ship terminal.

Source: Wikivoyage · Wikivoyage
What specialty art museums are located in Long Beach?

The city hosts the Museum of Latin American Art, which exclusively features modern and contemporary Latin American artwork. The municipality also contains the Long Beach Museum of Art and the Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum.

Source: Wikipedia
Is a car necessary for traveling around Long Beach?

Driving provides the most practical transit method across outer residential neighborhoods and the wider region. In contrast, travelers moving through the downtown core can rely on municipal buses, seasonal water taxis, and light rail connections.

Source: Wikipedia · Wikivoyage
7 sources
Source: Wikivoyage · Budget in Long Beach, CA: Single Adult (2026) | CostOfCity · Where to Buy a Prepaid Sim Card for Long Beach in 2025 - eSIM.net · Wikivoyage · Fares · Wikivoyage · Wikivoyage

Getting here

Airports, distances and public transport

Getting hereOurAirports (public domain)
Long Beach International Airport LGB6.6 km from the centre
Jack Northrop Field Hawthorne Municipal Airport HHR22 km from the centre
Los Angeles International Airport LAX28 km from the centre
Public transport$1.25Single ticket · Riders tap contactless cards, scan a regional TAP card or app, or pay with exact cash on board.

When to go and itineraries

When to come and what fits into a day, three days and a week

Ready-made itineraries
Waterfront and Downtown Walk2 km on foot
  1. 09:00Aquarium of the PacificExhibits present marine habitats from across the Pacific rim along Rainbow Harbor.
  2. 12:00Long Beach Convention and Entertainment CenterThe public plaza features outdoor murals and connects the waterfront to central pedestrian corridors.
  3. 14:30Downtown Long BeachPedestrian streets offer dining, coffee stops, and access to local transit lines.
  4. 17:00Long Beach Street CircuitWalk the shoreline boulevard where annual racing takes place along the harbor perimeter.
Harbor and Athletics Tour12 km on foot
  1. 10:00Walter PyramidThe landmark cobalt-blue athletic arena anchors the university campus grounds.
  2. 13:00Long Beach Marine StadiumThe historic marine channel serves as a venue for rowing, water skiing, and open-air recreation.
  3. 16:00Port of Long BeachObservation points overlook major commercial shipping channels and active container terminals.

People who have been here

Александр БолдаковVIRUS666 · Read
Los Angeles, Hollywood!!

Los Angeles!!!!! Since I was a kid, I had a dream to see that very Hollywood sign on the hill!! I had such a huge grin when it finally happened!! Anyway, let's go in order!! It so happened that those students didn't answer their phones, and I ended up walking around Downtown all night ))) ooh, I walked everywhere!! And with all my stuff too! By morning I got hungry, went into Jack in the Box, saw bulletproof glass, and realized I had wandered into a dangerous Mexican neighborhood ))) The next day I called, and it turned out the phone was under my pillow on silent! Anyway, I arrived, there were 7 people living there!! The apartment was right on Hollywood Boulevard!! I lived there for 2 weeks, I'd leave in the morning and come back late at night!! I walked around and explored the city!! First, of course, I walked the entire Hollywood Boulevard itself, which took a few days because I went into every little shop, filmed everything on camera, and looked at all the stars on the sidewalk!! The boulevard itself is several kilometers long, and there are stars on the sidewalk on both sides of the street!! Every day, there were flowers or candles lying by Michael Jackson's star! There were constantly some kind of amateur performances happening there on the boulevard! By the way, a few streets away from the boulevard is the 'Little Armenia' neighborhood, where mostly Armenians live! Next stop: Universal Studios. It's about a 20-minute subway ride from Hollywood Boulevard. By the way, the subway is very clean, unlike NY's. So, there are lots of shops with movie souvenirs there!! And crowds of tourists! And the third neighborhood I managed to visit was Long Beach. Nothing remarkable there. It takes about an hour to get there from Downtown by subway!! Such a quiet little place with lots of hotels, yachts, and ships! I'll talk about Downtown separately; it has the tallest building in California, 310 meters!! It's home to an architectural wonder of the world: the Walt Disney Concert Hall! Downtown is divided into old and new! Next to the new skyscrapers are old, restored buildings from the beginning of the last century!! Next to Downtown is Chinatown! Of course, everything is in Chinese there, Chinese people everywhere, and cheap clothes!! I bought 4 hats there )) the neighborhood is very clean, not like in NY. Basically, the reason I didn't manage to go anywhere else was that I spent so much time in clothing stores!!! I could walk around for hours!! I also visited a buffet a few times; the selection there was definitely much bigger than in Bakersfield! I spent an average of 2-3 hours in the buffet )))))) until I ate my fill twice!!! I can say about the city that it is very clean!!! And food prices are reasonable!! There was a case where I decided to ride the subway for free as usual, and suddenly 3 inspectors walked in at once, so I didn't even have time to get out; they walked in right before departure! Well, I didn't lose my cool, I confidently showed him an old ticket, and he didn't even look at it )))) Anyway, I got lucky, otherwise, it would have been a $300 fine! Damn, my money is running out, and I've already started thinking about how to get to NY cheaper. Completely by accident, I found an ad in a VK group from 2 students looking for a 3rd person to join their team ))) they were driving from west to east by car! Well, I jumped on it, they picked me up, and that's when my great American road trip began!!!

  • Photo from a post by Александр Болдаков
  • Photo from a post by Александр Болдаков
  • Photo from a post by Александр Болдаков+2
Елена Астаеваlenpam · Read
Is it really that simple? YES!

The embassy, is it really that simple? The whole difficulty of the embassy lies in the agonizing hours of waiting, not knowing if you can start packing your bags or not... a sleepless night, a good half of your nerve cells, and a broken heel for two minutes of conversation and the consul's coveted signature. Is it worth it? From experience, I can say IT IS WORTH IT!!! I have never felt such a sense of inspiration, relief, and boundless joy and pride in myself after any exam! Now for the details... The morning started well, not counting the lump in my throat, shaking hands, and dizziness from fear. Having overcome ourselves, my friend and I left all our things at a Moscow friend's apartment and set off in search of the embassy. Or rather, the monument where we were supposed to meet. After getting off at the right metro station, we naturally headed in the wrong direction! When we realized we were lost and didn't even have a phone to call, we started to panic, to put it mildly, but kept walking. After a few tips from passersby, we finally found the embassy! But to our regret, it looked nothing like the photo we had printed out. As it turned out later, we had approached it from the wrong side and had to walk all the way around it (and this circle turned out to be quite large!!). Actually, this is where I had to say goodbye to my heel support))) Reaching the right entrance, we started looking for our group and stood in line with relief. (By the way, it's built according to a list, if anyone doesn't know, which personally didn't please me at all because I ended up 4th on the list.) This is where the exhausting wait in line on the street began. Everyone was freezing, so here is a piece of advice: no matter how warm it is in your city or what the weather forecasters say, dress as warmly as possible, because Moscow is a very nasty city in terms of weather! Then another hour of waiting inside the embassy, and here I am, next in line for the consul. My heart stops, my hands shake, and my head is a mess of English words. A booth opens up... I force a smile and head toward the available consul. Seeing him made me feel better. Bald with a beard and a sweet smile. Well, here we go: Me: Hello (smile ear to ear, while my hands are shaking) C: Hello. How are you? Me: I'm fine, thanks, and you? C: Oo, I'm ok. Put your finger, right hand, to the scanner. Me: Which one? (I said in Russian purely by reflex and froze) C: The middle one (also in Russian!! And he laughs) So, where are you studying? Me: I'm studying at Samara State Economic University C: Well. Do you have a Job-offer? Me: Yes, my Job-offer is confirmed by the sponsor. C: And where will you be working? Me: A waitress in a restaurant, Long Beach, California C: California? (There was some surprise in his voice, you'd think I'm the first person going there!) Me: Yes C: (Here he takes my DS-2019) Ooo, you signed in my place. Me: Yes, I'm sorry (it was really very awkward.) C: I'm sorry, I have to refuse you a visa (my heart sank, but I kept a smile on my face, which was now against the backdrop of growing hysteria inside me.) Me: Why?? (swallowing the lump in my throat, I ask calmly and still with a smile) C: There is no place where I could sign Me: I am, to put it mildly, in shock, standing still C: (laughs) It’s a joke Me: .... (I smile and even laugh. But I can't believe my ears! Is that even allowed?) C: (signing the DS-2019) Do you know the famous person from Long Beach? Me: No, only the governor of California, Schwarzenegger C: No, I'm talking about Long Beach Me: No, I do not know C: Snoop Dogg (with such a satisfied look on his face) Me: Seriously? I do not know. C: Maybe you'll meet him Me: Maybe C: When you're in the U.S., give him my greetings. Have a nice trip! Me: OK! Thank you!! And now I'm on the street, people are asking me how it went, what they asked, if many were refused... I answer, I say that I am delighted with the consul (I really liked him, it was pleasant to talk to

Елена Астаеваlenpam · Read
Is it really that simple? YES!

The embassy — is it really that simple? The whole difficulty of the embassy lies in the agonizing hours of waiting in uncertainty about whether you can start packing your things yet or not.. night without sleep, a good half of your nerve cells gone and a broken heel for the sake of two minutes of conversation and the coveted signature of the consul. Is it worth it? From experience I can say WORTH IT!!! such a feeling of exhilaration, relief and boundless joy and pride in myself I have not felt even after any exam! And now more details.. The morning started well, apart from the lump in my throat, my hands shaking and my head spinning from fear. Having overcome ourselves my friend and I left all our things at my Moscow friend’s apartment and set off to look for the embassy. Or rather the monument next to which we were supposed to meet. Getting out at the right metro station we, of course, went the wrong way! When we realized we were lost and didn’t even have a phone to call, we, to put it mildly, started to panic but kept walking. After several directions from passersby we finally found the embassy! But to our disappointment it somehow looked nothing like the photo we had printed. As it turned out later we had entered from the wrong side and had to walk around it (and that walk turned out to be not small at all!!) It was here that I had to say goodbye to my insole))) Reaching the correct entrance we started to look for our group and with relief joined the queue. (by the way it’s organized by the list if anyone doesn’t know, which didn’t please me at all because I turned out to be 4th on the list.) This is where the exhausting waiting in line outside began, everyone froze so a tip: however warm it may be in your city or whatever the weather forecasters say, dress as warmly as possible, because Moscow is a really nasty city when it comes to weather! Then another hour of waiting inside the embassy and now I’m standing next in line to the consul. My heart stops, my hands tremble, my head is a jumble of English words. The booth frees up... I put on a smile and head to the free consul. Seeing him made me feel better. A balding man with a beard and a friendly smile. And then it went like this: Me: Hello (a grin from ear to ear, while my hands are shaking) Consul: hello. how are you? Me: I'm fine thanks and you? Consul: Oo, I'm ok. put your finger right hand to the scanner. Me: Which? (I said automatically in Russian and froze) Consul: Middle (also in Russian!! And he laughs) So, where are you studying? Me: I'm study at Samara State Economic University Consul: well. Do you have Job-offer? Me: Yes, my Job-offer i is confirmed by the sponsor. Consul: and where will you working? Me: a waitress in a restaurant, Long Beach, California Consul: California? (there was some surprise in his voice, one might think I’m the first to go there!) Me: yes Consul: (here he takes my form) ooo, you sign in the place of me. Me: Yes, I'm sorry (it really was awkward.) Consul: I'm sorry I have to refuse you a visa (my heart sank, while my smile remained but now on the background of growing hysteria inside me.) Me: Why?? (swallowing the lump in my throat I ask calmly and still with a smile) Consul: There is no place where I could sign Me: I’m, to put it mildly, in shock standing there without moving Consul: (laughs) It’s a joke Me: .... (I smile and even laugh. I can’t believe my ears! Can you do that?) Consul: (signing on the form) Do you know the famous person from Long Beach? Me: No, only the governor of California Schwarzenegger Consul: No, I'm talking about Long Beach Me: No I do not know Consul: Snoop Dogg (with such a pleased look) Me: seriously? I do not know. Consul: maybe you meet him Me: maybe Consul: when you're in the U.S. say hello to him from me. Have a nice trip! Me: OK! thank you!! And now I’m already outside, they ask me how it went, what they asked, whether many were refused.. I answer, say that I’m delighted with the consul (I really liked

3posts by participants about Long Beach — from housing and visas to weekend routes.Read all

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