Living Cost Compare
Bakersfield

California

$1,330/mo est.

vs
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/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 $1,190 in Birmingham, AL. Overall, Birmingham, AL is roughly 11% 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 $44,376 in Birmingham, AL — about 43% higher in Bakersfield, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Bakersfield, CA
Birmingham, AL

Rent

Studio
$1,027
$857
+17% in Bakersfield, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,007
$1,004
+0% in Bakersfield, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,233
$1,005
+18% in Bakersfield, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,656
$1,188
+28% in Bakersfield, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$347,300
$138,600
+60% in Bakersfield, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$77,397
$44,376
+43% in Bakersfield, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,470
$47,770
+1% in Birmingham, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.9 yr
35.9 yr
+4.0 yr in Birmingham, AL
Homeownership
60.1%
45.1%
+15.0 pp in Bakersfield, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.3%
30.7%
+7.4 pp in Birmingham, AL
Avg Commute
24.1 min
21.5 min
+2.6 min in Bakersfield, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
556.8
1,274.7
+129% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
2,488.9
4,233
+70% in Birmingham, AL

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
63.3°F
+0.7°F in Bakersfield, CA
Annual Precipitation
8.0 in
53.7 in
+45.7 in in Birmingham, AL

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
16.8
+50% in Bakersfield, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$22.64
+9% in Birmingham, AL

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 Birmingham, AL
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 / AL)
7.25%
4%
+3.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
5.00%
+8.3 pp in CA

Bakersfield vs Birmingham — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or Birmingham?
Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% 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 Birmingham?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bakersfield versus $40,000 in Birmingham.
Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or Birmingham?
Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Birmingham under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).