Imperial Beach, CA vs Seal Beach, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Seal Beach, CA has a modeled overall cost index 7.5% lower than Imperial Beach, CA.

Imperial Beach, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,790 / month
Seal Beach, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,290 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Imperial Beach, CA and Seal Beach, CA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Imperial Beach, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $137/month in Seal Beach, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $148,362 in Seal Beach, CA

Regional cost estimates: Imperial Beach, CA uses Chula Vista, CA. Seal Beach, CA uses Long Beach, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 7.5%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$137

Savings

Annual Impact

$1.6K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Imperial Beach, CA

Population:25K

Cost Index:

136.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$823K

Seal Beach, CA

Population:24K

Cost Index:

126.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$777K

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Imperial Beach, CA

The Golden State

25K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 25K residents.

Seal Beach, CA

The Golden State

24K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 24K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Imperial Beach, CA vs Seal Beach, CA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Imperial Beach, CA	Seal Beach, CA	Difference	Change
Transportation	$1,114/mo	$1,510/mo	↑ $396more	35.6%
Housing	$3,333/mo	$3,093/mo	↓ $240less	7.2%
Other	$1,341/mo	$1,207/mo	↓ $135less	10.0%
Healthcare	$465/mo	$399/mo	↓ $65.79less	14.2%
All Utilities	$461/mo	$403/mo	↓ $58.36less	12.6%
Groceries	$786/mo	$752/mo	↓ $34.07less	4.3%

Transportation

↑ 35.6%

Imperial Beach, CA

$1,114

Seal Beach, CA

$1,510

Difference

$396

Housing

↓ 7.2%

Imperial Beach, CA

$3,333

Seal Beach, CA

$3,093

Difference

$240

less

Other

↓ 10.0%

Imperial Beach, CA

$1,341

Seal Beach, CA

$1,207

Difference

$135

less

Healthcare

↓ 14.2%

Imperial Beach, CA

$465

Seal Beach, CA

$399

Difference

$65.79

less

All Utilities

↓ 12.6%

Imperial Beach, CA

$461

Seal Beach, CA

$403

Difference

$58.36

less

Groceries

↓ 4.3%

Imperial Beach, CA

$786

Seal Beach, CA

$752

Difference

$34.07

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$2,130

To$2,730

↑ $600

1 Bed

From$2,290

To$2,790

↑ $500

2 Bed

From$2,790

To$3,290

↑ $500

3 Bed

From$3,720

To$4,470

↑ $750

Imperial Beach, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,290–$2,290/mo

Seal Beach, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,790–$2,790/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Imperial Beach, CA

$7,363

Monthly in Seal Beach, CA

$137

Difference

Home Values

Imperial Beach

Seal Beach

$823K

Median Value

$777K

↓ -0.7%

YoY Change

↓ -0.7%

↑ +23.7%

5-Year Change

↑ +37.8%

Homes in Seal Beach are 6% less expensive than Imperial Beach

Calculate payment - Imperial Beach Calculate payment - Seal Beach

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Imperial Beach, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

Seal Beach, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

Additional Tax Information

Imperial Beach, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Seal Beach, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Imperial Beach

Seal Beach

71 Moderate

Air Quality

80 Moderate

12.8%

Good Air Days

10.4%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥🌊🌡

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌅

▲+2.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.3°F

1 days

Heat Days >95°F

5 days

▲+2.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.3°F

1 days

Heat Days >95°F

5 days

Before moving from Imperial Beach, CA to Seal Beach, CA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Seal Beach, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Imperial Beach, CA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Imperial Beach to Seal Beach moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Seal Beach, CA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Imperial Beach, CA vs Seal Beach, CA

How do the cost estimates for Imperial Beach, CA and Seal Beach, CA compare?

Seal Beach, CA has a modeled overall cost index 7.5% lower than Imperial Beach, CA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Imperial Beach, CA, the model estimates $148,362 in Seal Beach, CA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Imperial Beach, CA and Seal Beach, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,790/month in Imperial Beach, CA and $3,290/month in Seal Beach, CA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.