Living Cost Compare
Ann Arbor

Michigan

$1,630/mo est.

vs
Bakersfield

California

$1,340/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,630 in Ann Arbor, MI versus $1,340 in Bakersfield, CA. Overall, Bakersfield, CA is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Ann Arbor, MI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,089 in Ann Arbor, MI and $77,397 in Bakersfield, CA — about 5% higher in Ann Arbor, MI. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Ann Arbor, MI
Bakersfield, CA

Rent

Studio
$1,274
$1,027
+19% in Ann Arbor, MI
1 Bedroom
$1,389
$1,007
+28% in Ann Arbor, MI
2 Bedroom
$1,692
$1,233
+27% in Ann Arbor, MI
3 Bedroom
$1,812
$1,656
+9% in Ann Arbor, MI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$435,100
$347,300
+20% in Ann Arbor, MI

Income

Median Household Income
$81,089
$77,397
+5% in Ann Arbor, MI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,380
$47,470
+14% in Ann Arbor, MI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
27.7 yr
31.9 yr
+4.2 yr in Bakersfield, CA
Homeownership
45.6%
60.1%
+14.5 pp in Bakersfield, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
77.7%
23.3%
+54.4 pp in Ann Arbor, MI
Avg Commute
19.9 min
24.1 min
+4.2 min in Bakersfield, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
311
556.8
+79% in Bakersfield, CA
Property Crime
1,744.5
2,488.9
+43% in Bakersfield, CA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
47.7°F
64.0°F
+16.3°F in Bakersfield, CA
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
8.0 in
+24.8 in in Ann Arbor, MI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$5.52/gal
+43% in Bakersfield, CA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs California.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs GET Bus (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.0
34.7
+51% in Bakersfield, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.72
$20.33
+3% in Bakersfield, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Bakersfield, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Bakersfield, CA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Ann Arbor, MI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Bakersfield, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Ann Arbor, MI
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Bakersfield, CA

Average prices — Midwest vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MI / CA)
6%
7.25%
+1.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
4.25%
13.30%
+9.1 pp in CA

Ann Arbor vs Bakersfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Ann Arbor or Bakersfield?
Bakersfield, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Ann Arbor, MI's $1,630, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Ann Arbor than in Bakersfield?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Ann Arbor versus $40,000 in Bakersfield.
Which has lower taxes, Ann Arbor or Bakersfield?
Ann Arbor is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax); Bakersfield under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).