Is Bakersfield expensive to live in?

Bakersfield is among the more affordable of the 50 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,007 per month ranks #41 of 50 and is 18% lower than the $1,223 median.

What is the average rent in Bakersfield?

Average rent in Bakersfield, CA runs a studio around $1,027, a one-bedroom around $1,007, a two-bedroom around $1,233, a three-bedroom around $1,656 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,007 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year. The median household income here is $77,397.

How much does it cost to live in Bakersfield per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Bakersfield is about $1,330 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Oil pump jack silhouette against red sunset — Bakersfield, CA

Cost of Living in Bakersfield, CA

Population 383,579 · California

~$1,330/mo est.1BR $1,007Home $347,300

Photo: Zbynek Burival / Unsplash

Compare with:

The cost of living in Bakersfield, CA is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,007 a month — 18% lower than the $1,223 median across the 50 large US cities we track. Studios average $1,027 and two-bedrooms $1,233.

Median household income here is $77,397, about the same as the $75,900 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,330 before food and transport. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $1,007

Studio

$1,027

1 Bedroom

$1,007

2 Bedroom

$1,233

3 Bedroom

$1,656

Buying a Home$347,300

Median Home Value

$347,300

Income$77,397

Median Household Income

$77,397

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,470

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesWest

Milk (gal)

$4.37

Bread (lb)

$2.10

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

Average prices, West (BLS, 2026-04-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities33.4¢/kWh

Electricity

33.4¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$20.72/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-03-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$5.91/gal

Regular Gasoline (California)

$5.91/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-05-25.

Public Transit$1.75

Base Fare (GET Bus)

$1.75

Adult base one-way fare on the primary agency (2026).

State Taxes (CA)7.25% sales

State Sales Tax

7.25%

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 13.30%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime556.8 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

556.8

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

2,488.7

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Bakersfield Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 31.9 yrs

Median Age

31.9 yrs

Homeownership

60.1%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

23.3%

Avg Commute

24.1 min

Climate64.0°F

Avg Annual Temperature

64.0°F

Annual Precipitation

8.0 in

Bakersfield cost of living — FAQ

Is Bakersfield expensive to live in?: Bakersfield is among the more affordable of the 50 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,007 per month ranks #41 of 50 and is 18% lower than the $1,223 median.
What is the average rent in Bakersfield?: Average rent in Bakersfield, CA runs a studio around $1,027, a one-bedroom around $1,007, a two-bedroom around $1,233, a three-bedroom around $1,656 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,007 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year. The median household income here is $77,397.
How much does it cost to live in Bakersfield per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Bakersfield is about $1,330 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Bakersfield with nearby cities

Bakersfield vs Los Angeles Bakersfield vs Fresno Bakersfield vs Long Beach Bakersfield vs Anaheim Bakersfield vs Santa Ana Bakersfield vs San Diego

Nearby cities

Los Angeles, CA 101 mi Fresno, CA 104 mi Long Beach, CA 120 mi Anaheim, CA 123 mi Santa Ana, CA 130 mi San Diego, CA 212 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.