Living Cost Compare
Bakersfield

California

$1,330/mo est.

vs
Frederick

Maryland

$1,640/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 $1,640 in Frederick, MD. Overall, Bakersfield, CA is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Frederick, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,397 in Bakersfield, CA and $95,150 in Frederick, MD — about 19% higher in Frederick, MD. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Bakersfield, CA
Frederick, MD

Rent

Studio
$1,027
$1,658
+61% in Frederick, MD
1 Bedroom
$1,007
$1,418
+41% in Frederick, MD
2 Bedroom
$1,233
$1,661
+35% in Frederick, MD
3 Bedroom
$1,656
$1,863
+13% in Frederick, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$347,300
$365,200
+5% in Frederick, MD

Income

Median Household Income
$77,397
$95,150
+23% in Frederick, MD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,470
$71,060
+50% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.9 yr
37.1 yr
+5.2 yr in Frederick, MD
Homeownership
60.1%
59.2%
+0.9 pp in Bakersfield, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.3%
41.8%
+18.5 pp in Frederick, MD
Avg Commute
24.1 min
30.1 min
+6.0 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
556.8
406
+27% in Bakersfield, CA
Property Crime
2,488.9
1,696.3
+32% 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
52.1°F
+11.9°F in Bakersfield, CA
Annual Precipitation
8.0 in
—

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.40/gal
$3.86/gal
+28% 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)
33.3
21.8
+35% in Bakersfield, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$18.94
+9% in Bakersfield, CA

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 Frederick, MD
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 / MD)
7.25%
6%
+1.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
6.50%
+6.8 pp in CA

Bakersfield vs Frederick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or Frederick?
Bakersfield, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Frederick, MD's $1,640, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield than in Frederick?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bakersfield versus $57,000 in Frederick.
Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or Frederick?
Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Frederick under Maryland's (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% 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).