Living Cost Compare
Bakersfield

California

$1,330/mo est.

vs
Fargo

North Dakota

$940/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 $940 in Fargo, ND. Overall, Fargo, ND is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bakersfield, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,397 in Bakersfield, CA and $66,029 in Fargo, ND — about 15% higher in Bakersfield, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax.

Bakersfield, CA
Fargo, ND

Rent

Studio
$1,027
$671
+35% in Bakersfield, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,007
$804
+20% in Bakersfield, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,233
$956
+22% in Bakersfield, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,656
$1,368
+17% in Bakersfield, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$347,300
$269,800
+22% in Bakersfield, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$77,397
$66,029
+15% in Bakersfield, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,470
$51,050
+8% in Fargo, ND

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.9 yr
32.2 yr
+0.3 yr in Fargo, ND
Homeownership
60.1%
44.1%
+16.0 pp in Bakersfield, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.3%
43.2%
+19.9 pp in Fargo, ND
Avg Commute
24.1 min
15.8 min
+8.3 min in Bakersfield, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
556.8
504.9
+9% in Bakersfield, CA
Property Crime
2,488.9
3,726.4
+50% in Fargo, ND

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
42.4°F
+21.6°F in Bakersfield, CA
Annual Precipitation
8.0 in
22.6 in
+14.5 in in Fargo, ND

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.40/gal
$3.94/gal
+27% in Bakersfield, CA

Area: California vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.3
13.6
+59% in Bakersfield, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$11.39
+45% in Bakersfield, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Bakersfield, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.66
+19% in Bakersfield, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Fargo, ND
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Bakersfield, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Fargo, ND
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Bakersfield, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / ND)
7.25%
5%
+2.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
2.50%
+10.8 pp in CA

Bakersfield vs Fargo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or Fargo?
Fargo, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Bakersfield, CA's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield than in Fargo?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bakersfield versus $32,000 in Fargo.
Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or Fargo?
Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Fargo under North Dakota's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% 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).