Living Cost Compare
Bakersfield

California

$1,330/mo est.

vs
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/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 $1,470 in Colorado Springs, CO. Overall, Bakersfield, CA is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,397 in Bakersfield, CA and $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO — about 7% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax.

Bakersfield, CA
Colorado Springs, CO

Rent

Studio
$1,027
$998
+3% in Bakersfield, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,007
$1,305
+30% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,233
$1,504
+22% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,656
$1,881
+14% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$347,300
$420,700
+21% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$77,397
$83,198
+7% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,470
$52,710
+11% in Colorado Springs, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.9 yr
35.6 yr
+3.7 yr in Colorado Springs, CO
Homeownership
60.1%
61.3%
+1.2 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.3%
41.9%
+18.6 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Avg Commute
24.1 min
22.8 min
+1.3 min in Bakersfield, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
556.8
721.1
+30% in Colorado Springs, CO
Property Crime
2,488.7
3,487.9
+40% in Colorado Springs, CO

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
49.0°F
+15.0°F in Bakersfield, CA
Annual Precipitation
8.0 in
16.5 in
+8.5 in in Colorado Springs, CO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.91/gal
$4.54/gal
+23% in Bakersfield, CA

Area: California vs Colorado.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
16.7
+50% in Bakersfield, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$11.64
+44% in Bakersfield, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.37
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.25
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$7.23
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.14
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.74
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / CO)
7.25%
2.9%
+4.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
4.40%
+8.9 pp in CA

Bakersfield vs Colorado Springs — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or Colorado Springs?
Bakersfield, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Colorado Springs, CO's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield than in Colorado Springs?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bakersfield versus $52,000 in Colorado Springs.
Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or Colorado Springs?
Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Colorado Springs under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).