Living Cost Compare
Bakersfield

California

$1,330/mo est.

vs
Charlotte

North Carolina

$1,550/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 $1,550 in Charlotte, NC. Overall, Bakersfield, CA is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charlotte, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,397 in Bakersfield, CA and $78,438 in Charlotte, NC — about 1% higher in Charlotte, NC. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Bakersfield, CA
Charlotte, NC

Rent

Studio
$1,027
$1,424
+39% in Charlotte, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,007
$1,374
+36% in Charlotte, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,233
$1,491
+21% in Charlotte, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,656
$1,663
+0% in Charlotte, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$347,300
$351,500
+1% in Charlotte, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$77,397
$78,438
+1% in Charlotte, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,470
$49,990
+5% in Charlotte, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.9 yr
34.4 yr
+2.5 yr in Charlotte, NC
Homeownership
60.1%
51.5%
+8.6 pp in Bakersfield, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.3%
47.4%
+24.1 pp in Charlotte, NC
Avg Commute
24.1 min
25.0 min
+0.9 min in Charlotte, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
556.8
733.1
+32% in Charlotte, NC
Property Crime
2,488.7
3,719
+49% in Charlotte, NC

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
59.9°F
+4.1°F in Bakersfield, CA
Annual Precipitation
8.0 in
41.6 in
+33.6 in in Charlotte, NC

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
$2.20
+26% in Charlotte, NC

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
16.0
+52% in Bakersfield, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$17.50
+16% 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 / NC)
7.25%
4.75%
+2.5 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
3.99%
+9.3 pp in CA

Bakersfield vs Charlotte — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or Charlotte?
Bakersfield, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Charlotte, NC's $1,550, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield than in Charlotte?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bakersfield versus $55,000 in Charlotte.
Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or Charlotte?
Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Charlotte under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).