Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or Columbus?

Columbus, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,250 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Bakersfield, CA's $1,330, mainly because of electricity costs.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield than in Columbus?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bakersfield versus $42,000 in Columbus.

Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or Columbus?

Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Columbus under Ohio's (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax).

Bakersfield vs Columbus Cost of Living 2026

Bakersfield

California

$1,330/mo est.

Columbus

Ohio

$1,250/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 $1,250 in Columbus, OH. Overall, Columbus, OH is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bakersfield, CA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $77,397 in Bakersfield, CA and $65,327 in Columbus, OH — about 16% higher in Bakersfield, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax.

Bakersfield, CA

Columbus, OH

Rent

Studio

$1,027

$1,014

+1% in Bakersfield, CA

1 Bedroom

$1,007

$1,059

+5% in Columbus, OH

2 Bedroom

$1,233

$1,276

+3% in Columbus, OH

3 Bedroom

$1,656

$1,369

+17% in Bakersfield, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$347,300

$234,500

+32% in Bakersfield, CA

Income

Median Household Income

$77,397

$65,327

+16% in Bakersfield, CA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,470

$51,340

+8% in Columbus, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

31.9 yr

33.0 yr

+1.1 yr in Columbus, OH

Homeownership

60.1%

44.3%

+15.8 pp in Bakersfield, CA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

23.3%

38.2%

+14.9 pp in Columbus, OH

Avg Commute

24.1 min

21.8 min

+2.3 min in Bakersfield, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

556.8

484.8

+13% in Bakersfield, CA

Property Crime

2,488.7

3,092.7

+24% in Columbus, OH

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

40.1 in

+32.1 in in Columbus, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.91/gal

$4.56/gal

+23% in Bakersfield, CA

Area: California vs Ohio.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.75

$2.00

+14% in Columbus, OH

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

33.4

18.8

+44% in Bakersfield, CA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.72

$13.75

+34% 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 Columbus, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

$6.97

+4% in Bakersfield, CA

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

$2.15

+1% in Columbus, OH

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 / OH)

7.25%

5.75%

+1.5 pp in CA

Income Tax (top rate)

13.30%

2.75%

+10.6 pp in CA

Bakersfield vs Columbus — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or Columbus?: Columbus, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,250 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Bakersfield, CA's $1,330, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield than in Columbus?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bakersfield versus $42,000 in Columbus.
Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or Columbus?: Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Columbus under Ohio's (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).