Living Cost Compare
Bakersfield

California

$1,340/mo est.

vs
Bozeman

Montana

$1,360/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,340 in Bakersfield, CA versus $1,360 in Bozeman, MT. Overall, Bakersfield, CA is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bozeman, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,397 in Bakersfield, CA and $79,903 in Bozeman, MT — about 3% higher in Bozeman, MT. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Bakersfield, CA
Bozeman, MT

Rent

Studio
$1,027
$1,064
+4% in Bozeman, MT
1 Bedroom
$1,007
$1,214
+21% in Bozeman, MT
2 Bedroom
$1,233
$1,528
+24% in Bozeman, MT
3 Bedroom
$1,656
$2,057
+24% in Bozeman, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$347,300
$614,900
+77% in Bozeman, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$77,397
$79,903
+3% in Bozeman, MT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,470
$54,830
+16% in Bozeman, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.9 yr
28.6 yr
+3.3 yr in Bakersfield, CA
Homeownership
60.1%
44.6%
+15.5 pp in Bakersfield, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.3%
65.1%
+41.8 pp in Bozeman, MT
Avg Commute
24.1 min
15.4 min
+8.7 min in Bakersfield, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
556.8
451.2
+19% in Bakersfield, CA
Property Crime
2,488.9
1,808.3
+27% 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
45.3°F
+18.7°F in Bakersfield, CA
Annual Precipitation
8.0 in
14.0 in
+6.0 in in Bozeman, MT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.52/gal
$4.27/gal
+23% in Bakersfield, CA

Area: California vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
34.7
15.1
+56% in Bakersfield, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.33
$10.12
+50% in Bakersfield, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / MT)
7.25%
None
+7.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
5.65%
+7.7 pp in CA

Bakersfield vs Bozeman — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or Bozeman?
Bakersfield, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Bozeman, MT's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield than in Bozeman?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bakersfield versus $49,000 in Bozeman.
Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or Bozeman?
Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Bozeman under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no 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).