Living Cost Compare
Bakersfield

California

$1,330/mo est.

vs
Dallas

Texas

$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 Dallas, TX. Overall, Bakersfield, CA is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dallas, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,397 in Bakersfield, CA and $67,760 in Dallas, TX — about 12% higher in Bakersfield, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Bakersfield, CA
Dallas, TX

Rent

Studio
$1,027
$1,259
+23% in Dallas, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,007
$1,280
+27% in Dallas, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,233
$1,500
+22% in Dallas, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,656
$1,559
+6% in Bakersfield, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$347,300
$295,300
+15% in Bakersfield, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$77,397
$67,760
+12% in Bakersfield, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,470
$51,440
+8% in Dallas, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.9 yr
33.4 yr
+1.5 yr in Dallas, TX
Homeownership
60.1%
42.4%
+17.7 pp in Bakersfield, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.3%
37.4%
+14.1 pp in Dallas, TX
Avg Commute
24.1 min
26.0 min
+1.9 min in Dallas, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
556.8
661.7
+19% in Dallas, TX
Property Crime
2,488.7
3,411.8
+37% in Dallas, TX

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
67.2°F
+3.2°F in Dallas, TX
Annual Precipitation
8.0 in
37.6 in
+29.5 in in Dallas, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.91/gal
$3.96/gal
+33% in Bakersfield, CA

Area: California vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$2.50
+43% in Dallas, TX

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
16.4
+51% in Bakersfield, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$24.61
+19% in Dallas, TX

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 / TX)
7.25%
6.25%
+1.0 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
None
+13.3 pp in CA

Bakersfield vs Dallas — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or Dallas?
Bakersfield, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Dallas, TX's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield than in Dallas?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bakersfield versus $51,000 in Dallas.
Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or Dallas?
Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Dallas under Texas's (no state income tax 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).