Long Beach vs San Pedro: Rent, Walkability, Transit and Vibe Compared (2026)

Based on the ZIP codes we used for each area, Long Beach averaged a typical asking rent of $2,464 in September 2026 versus $3,280 in San Pedro, a gap of about $816 a month, or roughly $9,792 a year. For context, the Los Angeles metro typical rent was $2,929.

Read the full guides: Long Beach neighborhood guide and All LA neighborhood guides.

Long Beach vs San Pedro at a glance

Rent by ZIP code

Neighborhood names do not line up neatly with ZIP codes, so we show each ZIP we used.

Citywide, Zillow’s typical rent for Long Beach was $2,412 in September 2026 (+0.5% month over month, +2.5% year over year).

How the HUD benchmark compares

Averaging HUD’s FY2027 1-bedroom Small Area Fair Market Rents across the same ZIPs gives $2,718 for Long Beach and $2,750 for San Pedro.

Budget for move-in costs too. In California, the security deposit limit for most landlords is one month of rent under a 2024 state law (AB 12), so on a $2,464 apartment you should plan for first month plus a deposit of up to that amount, plus any application fees and moving costs.

Walkability and transit

Long Beach: The Metro A Line runs from Downtown Long Beach to Los Angeles; Long Beach Transit operates the local bus network.

San Pedro: San Pedro has no rail station; the Metro J Line bus and other routes connect it toward Downtown LA and the Harbor Freeway corridor.

Vibe and lifestyle

Long Beach: A separate, large city with its own downtown, beaches, Belmont Shore and Retro Row, a busy port and many older apartment buildings near the coast.

San Pedro: A harbor neighborhood in the City of Los Angeles, next to the Port of Los Angeles, with a small downtown, Cabrillo Beach, Point Fermin and a slower pace than central LA.

Verdict by renter type

• Rail commuters to LA: Long Beach, on the A Line.
• Renters wanting more city amenities: Long Beach, a large city with several distinct commercial districts.
• Budget-first renters: Compare ZIP-level rents below; parts of both sit under the metro typical rent.
• Port and harbor workers: San Pedro, next to the Port of Los Angeles.
• Renters wanting a slower pace: San Pedro.

Bottom line: on the numbers we gathered, Long Beach is the less expensive option by about $816 a month on typical asking rent, while the better fit depends on how you commute and how you want to spend evenings and weekends.

Rent control and tenant protections

Rules differ by building, not by neighborhood label. In 90731 (San Pedro), if the building is inside City of LA limits and was built before October 1, 1978, it is likely covered by the RSO (3% cap through June 2027); look the address up on ZIMAS. 90814 (Long Beach) carries a Long Beach mailing address, so confirm which city the building is legally in: outside the City of LA the LA RSO does not apply, and local rules or the statewide AB 1482 cap (8.7% in LA County) may. The Just Cause Ordinance covers most other City of LA rentals.

Rent vs. local income in these ZIP codes

How affordable are Long Beach and San Pedro for people who already live there? Rent-to-income ranges from 26.6% in 90803 (Long Beach) to 42.0% in 90802 (Long Beach), against 40.6% for the City of LA.

Rent: Zillow ZORI, Sep 2026, for 90731, 90732, 90802, 90803, 90804, 90814. Income: Census ACS 2020–2024 median household income (B19013) for the same ZIPs. *First month plus a one-month deposit (AB 12 cap). Full method: LA Rent Report.

How to decide

1. In 90731 (San Pedro), if the building is inside City of LA limits and was built before October 1, 1978, it is likely covered by the RSO (3% cap through June 2027); look the address up on ZIMAS.
2. Budget for the move itself: at 90804 (Long Beach)’s typical $2,225 you need about $4,450 upfront; in 90732 (San Pedro) it is closer to $7,944. Parking and utilities are extra on top of that, so get both in writing.
3. Do a trial commute from 90731 (San Pedro) to work at rush hour; the map estimate is rarely what you get.
4. For viewings in Long Beach or San Pedro, use the apartment tour checklist; a listing priced far under $2,225 is a reason to check our rental scam guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is Long Beach or San Pedro cheaper to rent?

Using Zillow’s September 2026 ZORI for the ZIP codes above, Long Beach averaged $2,464 versus $3,280 in San Pedro.

Does Long Beach or San Pedro have a Metro rail station?

The Metro A Line runs from Downtown Long Beach to Los Angeles; Long Beach Transit operates the local bus network. San Pedro has no rail station; the Metro J Line bus and other routes connect it toward Downtown LA and the Harbor Freeway corridor.

Related guides

• Shoreline Gateway Apartments (building profile)
• 200 West Ocean (building profile)
• Long Beach neighborhood guide
• All LA neighborhood guides
• All LA neighborhood comparisons
• LA renting guide
• Los Angeles rent report

Sources and methodology

The Long Beach and San Pedro figures cover ZIPs 90731, 90732, 90802, 90803, 90804, 90814: Zillow ZORI (September 2026), HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs and Census ACS 2020–2024 incomes. Definitions and caveats are in the LA Rent Report and Editorial Standards; check current service on metro.net.

Featured image: Spectators watching the "Great White Fleet" enter the Los Angeles Harbor (or San Pedro Harbor), April 1908 (CHS-5471) (illustrative neighborhood photo). Photo by Unknown authorUnknown author via Wikimedia Commons, licensed Public domain.

Featured photo: Photo: Christophe.Finot / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5