Living Cost Compare
Bakersfield

California

$1,340/mo est.

vs
Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/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 $780 in Fort Smith, AR. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bakersfield, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,397 in Bakersfield, CA and $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR — about 32% higher in Bakersfield, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Bakersfield, CA
Fort Smith, AR

Rent

Studio
$1,027
$634
+38% in Bakersfield, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,007
$603
+40% in Bakersfield, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,233
$863
+30% in Bakersfield, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,656
$1,087
+34% in Bakersfield, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$347,300
$168,100
+52% in Bakersfield, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$77,397
$52,692
+32% in Bakersfield, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,470
$39,560
+17% in Bakersfield, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.9 yr
36.6 yr
+4.7 yr in Fort Smith, AR
Homeownership
60.1%
53.0%
+7.1 pp in Bakersfield, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.3%
25.3%
+2.0 pp in Fort Smith, AR
Avg Commute
24.1 min
17.3 min
+6.8 min in Bakersfield, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
556.8
844.7
+52% in Fort Smith, AR
Property Crime
2,488.9
3,697.6
+49% in Fort Smith, AR

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
61.7°F
+2.3°F in Bakersfield, CA
Annual Precipitation
8.0 in
45.5 in
+37.4 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.52/gal
$3.62/gal
+34% in Bakersfield, CA

Area: California vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
34.7
14.1
+59% in Bakersfield, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.33
$27.86
+37% in Fort Smith, AR

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 Fort Smith, AR
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 / AR)
7.25%
6.5%
+0.8 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
3.90%
+9.4 pp in CA

Bakersfield vs Fort Smith — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or Fort Smith?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Bakersfield, CA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield than in Fort Smith?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bakersfield versus $24,000 in Fort Smith.
Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or Fort Smith?
Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Fort Smith under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% 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).