Living Cost Compare
Bakersfield

California

$1,330/mo est.

vs
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$960/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 $960 in Fort Wayne, IN. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bakersfield, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,397 in Bakersfield, CA and $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN — about 22% higher in Bakersfield, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Bakersfield, CA
Fort Wayne, IN

Rent

Studio
$1,027
$798
+22% in Bakersfield, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,007
$782
+22% in Bakersfield, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,233
$984
+20% in Bakersfield, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,656
$1,100
+34% in Bakersfield, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$347,300
$169,700
+51% in Bakersfield, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$77,397
$60,293
+22% in Bakersfield, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,470
$47,700
+0% in Fort Wayne, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.9 yr
35.0 yr
+3.1 yr in Fort Wayne, IN
Homeownership
60.1%
62.2%
+2.1 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.3%
28.5%
+5.2 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Avg Commute
24.1 min
21.4 min
+2.7 min in Bakersfield, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
556.8
308.9
+45% in Bakersfield, CA
Property Crime
2,488.9
2,245.4
+10% 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
50.5°F
+13.5°F in Bakersfield, CA
Annual Precipitation
8.0 in
38.3 in
+30.3 in in Fort Wayne, IN

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
18.1
+45% in Bakersfield, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$13.70
+34% 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 Fort Wayne, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Bakersfield, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Fort Wayne, IN
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 / IN)
7.25%
7%
+0.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
2.95%
+10.4 pp in CA

Bakersfield vs Fort Wayne — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or Fort Wayne?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Bakersfield, CA's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield than in Fort Wayne?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bakersfield versus $31,000 in Fort Wayne.
Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or Fort Wayne?
Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Fort Wayne under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).