Living Cost Compare
Bakersfield

California

$1,330/mo est.

vs
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,410/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,330 in Bakersfield, CA versus $1,410 in Baltimore, MD. Overall, Bakersfield, CA is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Baltimore, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,397 in Bakersfield, CA and $59,623 in Baltimore, MD — about 23% higher in Bakersfield, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Bakersfield, CA
Baltimore, MD

Rent

Studio
$1,027
$1,050
+2% in Baltimore, MD
1 Bedroom
$1,007
$1,073
+7% in Baltimore, MD
2 Bedroom
$1,233
$1,353
+10% in Baltimore, MD
3 Bedroom
$1,656
$1,555
+6% in Bakersfield, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$347,300
$219,300
+37% in Bakersfield, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$77,397
$59,623
+23% in Bakersfield, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,470
$59,070
+24% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.9 yr
36.1 yr
+4.2 yr in Baltimore, MD
Homeownership
60.1%
47.5%
+12.6 pp in Bakersfield, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.3%
35.4%
+12.1 pp in Baltimore, MD
Avg Commute
24.1 min
29.4 min
+5.3 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
556.8
1,616.7
+190% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
2,488.7
4,202.6
+69% in Baltimore, MD

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
64.0°F
61.4°F
+2.6°F in Bakersfield, CA
Annual Precipitation
8.0 in
42.4 in
+34.4 in in Baltimore, MD

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.91/gal
$4.30/gal
+27% in Bakersfield, CA

Area: California vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$2.00
+14% in Baltimore, MD

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
35.9
+7% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$17.19
+17% in Bakersfield, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.16
+5% in Bakersfield, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.73
+18% in Bakersfield, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.19
+3% in Bakersfield, CA
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.56
+9% in Bakersfield, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$1.90
+11% in Bakersfield, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.61
+17% in Bakersfield, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / MD)
7.25%
6%
+1.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
6.50%
+6.8 pp in CA

Bakersfield vs Baltimore — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or Baltimore?
Bakersfield, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Baltimore, MD's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield than in Baltimore?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bakersfield versus $43,000 in Baltimore.
Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or Baltimore?
Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Baltimore under Maryland's (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% 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).