Living Cost Compare
Bakersfield

California

$1,340/mo est.

vs
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,340 in Bakersfield, CA versus $1,270 in Dover, DE. Overall, Dover, DE is roughly 5% 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 $58,336 in Dover, DE — about 25% higher in Bakersfield, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Bakersfield, CA
Dover, DE

Rent

Studio
$1,027
$993
+3% in Bakersfield, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,007
$1,047
+4% in Dover, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,233
$1,185
+4% in Bakersfield, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,656
$1,634
+1% in Bakersfield, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$347,300
$248,500
+28% in Bakersfield, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$77,397
$58,336
+25% in Bakersfield, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,470
$46,690
+2% in Bakersfield, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.9 yr
35.1 yr
+3.2 yr in Dover, DE
Homeownership
60.1%
47.0%
+13.1 pp in Bakersfield, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.3%
27.1%
+3.8 pp in Dover, DE
Avg Commute
24.1 min
24.0 min
+0.1 min in Bakersfield, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
556.8
1,025.3
+84% in Dover, DE
Property Crime
2,488.9
6,159.1
+147% in Dover, DE

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
56.9°F
+7.1°F in Bakersfield, CA
Annual Precipitation
8.0 in
46.0 in
+38.0 in in Dover, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.52/gal
$3.94/gal
+29% in Bakersfield, CA

Area: California vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
34.7
19.3
+44% in Bakersfield, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.33
$29.73
+46% in Dover, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Bakersfield, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Bakersfield, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Dover, DE
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Bakersfield, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Bakersfield, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Bakersfield, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / DE)
7.25%
None
+7.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
6.60%
+6.7 pp in CA

Bakersfield vs Dover — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or Dover?
Dover, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Bakersfield, CA's $1,340, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield than in Dover?
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 Dover.
Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or Dover?
Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Dover under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).