Living Cost Compare
Bakersfield

California

$1,330/mo est.

vs
Denver

Colorado

$1,750/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 $1,750 in Denver, CO. Overall, Bakersfield, CA is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Denver, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,397 in Bakersfield, CA and $91,681 in Denver, CO — about 16% higher in Denver, 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
Denver, CO

Rent

Studio
$1,027
$1,497
+46% in Denver, CO
1 Bedroom
$1,007
$1,583
+57% in Denver, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,233
$1,958
+59% in Denver, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,656
$2,269
+37% in Denver, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$347,300
$586,700
+69% in Denver, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$77,397
$91,681
+18% in Denver, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,470
$62,320
+31% in Denver, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.9 yr
35.2 yr
+3.3 yr in Denver, CO
Homeownership
60.1%
49.1%
+11.0 pp in Bakersfield, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.3%
55.6%
+32.3 pp in Denver, CO
Avg Commute
24.1 min
25.4 min
+1.3 min in Denver, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
556.8
998.3
+79% in Denver, CO
Property Crime
2,488.7
4,781.9
+92% in Denver, 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
50.2°F
+13.8°F in Bakersfield, CA
Annual Precipitation
8.0 in
15.6 in
+7.6 in in Denver, CO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.91/gal
$4.58/gal
+23% in Bakersfield, CA

Area: California vs Denver.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$2.75
+57% in Denver, CO

Adult base one-way fare — GET Bus vs RTD (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 Denver — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or Denver?
Bakersfield, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Denver, CO's $1,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield than in Denver?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bakersfield versus $63,000 in Denver.
Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or Denver?
Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Denver 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).