Living Cost Compare
Bakersfield

California

$1,330/mo est.

vs
Chicago

Illinois

$1,440/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 $1,440 in Chicago, IL. Overall, Bakersfield, CA is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,397 in Bakersfield, CA and $75,134 in Chicago, IL — about 3% higher in Bakersfield, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Bakersfield, CA
Chicago, IL

Rent

Studio
$1,027
$1,186
+15% in Chicago, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,007
$1,258
+25% in Chicago, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,233
$1,406
+14% in Chicago, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,656
$1,554
+6% in Bakersfield, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$347,300
$315,200
+9% in Bakersfield, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$77,397
$75,134
+3% in Bakersfield, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,470
$54,720
+15% in Chicago, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.9 yr
35.7 yr
+3.8 yr in Chicago, IL
Homeownership
60.1%
45.5%
+14.6 pp in Bakersfield, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.3%
43.3%
+20.0 pp in Chicago, IL
Avg Commute
24.1 min
33.5 min
+9.4 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
556.8
539.8
+3% in Bakersfield, CA
Property Crime
2,488.7
3,489.9
+40% in Chicago, IL

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
52.7°F
+11.3°F in Bakersfield, CA
Annual Precipitation
8.0 in
38.0 in
+29.9 in in Chicago, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.91/gal
$4.82/gal
+18% in Bakersfield, CA

Area: California vs Chicago.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$2.50
+43% in Chicago, IL

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
18.9
+43% in Bakersfield, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$12.10
+42% in Bakersfield, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.14
+5% in Bakersfield, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.79
+15% in Bakersfield, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$3.63
+61% in Chicago, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.97
+4% in Bakersfield, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.15
+1% in Chicago, IL
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.63
+15% in Bakersfield, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / IL)
7.25%
6.25%
+1.0 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
4.95%
+8.4 pp in CA

Bakersfield vs Chicago — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or Chicago?
Bakersfield, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Chicago, IL's $1,440, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield than in Chicago?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bakersfield versus $50,000 in Chicago.
Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or Chicago?
Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Chicago under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).