Living Cost Compare
Bakersfield

California

$1,330/mo est.

vs
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/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 $1,010 in Baton Rouge, LA. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bakersfield, CA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $77,397 in Bakersfield, CA and $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA — about 35% higher in Bakersfield, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Bakersfield, CA
Baton Rouge, LA

Rent

Studio
$1,027
$881
+14% in Bakersfield, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,007
$854
+15% in Bakersfield, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,233
$1,075
+13% in Bakersfield, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,656
$1,241
+25% in Bakersfield, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$347,300
$224,500
+35% in Bakersfield, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$77,397
$49,944
+35% in Bakersfield, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,470
$48,710
+3% in Baton Rouge, LA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.9 yr
31.8 yr
+0.1 yr in Bakersfield, CA
Homeownership
60.1%
46.9%
+13.2 pp in Bakersfield, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.3%
35.8%
+12.5 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Avg Commute
24.1 min
21.1 min
+3.0 min in Bakersfield, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
556.8
305
+45% in Bakersfield, CA
Property Crime
2,488.9
1,756.3
+29% 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
64.0°F
68.5°F
+4.5°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
8.0 in
60.6 in
+52.6 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.40/gal
$3.62/gal
+33% in Bakersfield, CA

Area: California vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.3
14.2
+57% in Bakersfield, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$16.62
+20% in Bakersfield, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Bakersfield, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Bakersfield, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Baton Rouge, LA
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Bakersfield, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Bakersfield, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Bakersfield, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / LA)
7.25%
5%
+2.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
3.00%
+10.3 pp in CA

Bakersfield vs Baton Rouge — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or Baton Rouge?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Bakersfield, CA's $1,330, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield than in Baton Rouge?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bakersfield versus $34,000 in Baton Rouge.
Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or Baton Rouge?
Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Baton Rouge under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% 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).