Living Cost Compare
Bakersfield

California

$1,330/mo est.

vs
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Charleston, SC. Overall, Bakersfield, CA is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,397 in Bakersfield, CA and $90,038 in Charleston, SC — about 14% higher in Charleston, SC. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Bakersfield, CA
Charleston, SC

Rent

Studio
$1,027
$1,579
+54% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,007
$1,430
+42% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,233
$1,684
+37% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$1,656
$2,076
+25% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$347,300
$469,100
+35% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$77,397
$90,038
+16% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,470
$49,150
+4% in Charleston, SC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.9 yr
36.1 yr
+4.2 yr in Charleston, SC
Homeownership
60.1%
55.6%
+4.5 pp in Bakersfield, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.3%
57.7%
+34.4 pp in Charleston, SC
Avg Commute
24.1 min
23.8 min
+0.3 min in Bakersfield, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
556.8
358.8
+36% in Bakersfield, CA
Property Crime
2,488.9
2,035.1
+18% 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
66.7°F
+2.7°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
8.0 in
44.4 in
+36.4 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.40/gal
$3.86/gal
+28% in Bakersfield, CA

Area: California vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.3
16.2
+51% in Bakersfield, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$27.35
+32% in Charleston, SC

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 Charleston, SC
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 / SC)
7.25%
6%
+1.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
6.00%
+7.3 pp in CA

Bakersfield vs Charleston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or Charleston?
Bakersfield, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield than in Charleston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bakersfield versus $57,000 in Charleston.
Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or Charleston?
Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Charleston under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% 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).