Living Cost Compare
Bakersfield

California

$1,330/mo est.

vs
El Paso

Texas

$1,010/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 $1,010 in El Paso, TX. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bakersfield, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,397 in Bakersfield, CA and $58,734 in El Paso, TX — about 24% 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
El Paso, TX

Rent

Studio
$1,027
$707
+31% in Bakersfield, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,007
$816
+19% in Bakersfield, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,233
$993
+19% in Bakersfield, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,656
$1,252
+24% in Bakersfield, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$347,300
$171,700
+51% in Bakersfield, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$77,397
$58,734
+24% in Bakersfield, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,470
$39,510
+17% in Bakersfield, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.9 yr
34.1 yr
+2.2 yr in El Paso, TX
Homeownership
60.1%
60.2%
+0.1 pp in El Paso, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.3%
27.5%
+4.2 pp in El Paso, TX
Avg Commute
24.1 min
23.7 min
+0.4 min in Bakersfield, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
556.8
319.7
+43% in Bakersfield, CA
Property Crime
2,488.7
1,509.3
+39% in Bakersfield, CA

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
64.6°F
+0.6°F in El Paso, TX
Annual Precipitation
8.0 in
9.7 in
+1.7 in in El Paso, 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
$1.50
+14% in Bakersfield, CA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
16.4
+51% in Bakersfield, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$24.61
+19% in El Paso, 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 El Paso — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or El Paso?
El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Bakersfield, CA's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield than in El Paso?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bakersfield versus $33,000 in El Paso.
Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or El Paso?
Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); El Paso 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).