Living Cost Compare
Bakersfield

California

$1,340/mo est.

vs
Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Hartford, CT. Overall, Hartford, CT is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bakersfield, CA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $77,397 in Bakersfield, CA and $45,300 in Hartford, CT — about 41% higher in Bakersfield, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Bakersfield, CA
Hartford, CT

Rent

Studio
$1,027
$973
+5% in Bakersfield, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,007
$1,042
+3% in Hartford, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,233
$1,296
+5% in Hartford, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,656
$1,433
+13% in Bakersfield, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$347,300
$217,200
+37% in Bakersfield, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$77,397
$45,300
+41% in Bakersfield, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,470
$59,940
+26% in Hartford, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.9 yr
33.4 yr
+1.5 yr in Hartford, CT
Homeownership
60.1%
25.7%
+34.4 pp in Bakersfield, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.3%
18.3%
+5.0 pp in Bakersfield, CA
Avg Commute
24.1 min
22.8 min
+1.3 min in Bakersfield, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
556.8
527.5
+5% in Bakersfield, CA
Property Crime
2,488.9
2,949.2
+18% in Hartford, CT

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
51.2°F
+12.8°F in Bakersfield, CA
Annual Precipitation
8.0 in
43.6 in
+35.6 in in Hartford, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.52/gal
$3.94/gal
+29% 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)
34.7
24.3
+30% in Bakersfield, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.33
$23.33
+15% in Hartford, CT

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
$1.92
+6% in Bakersfield, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Bakersfield, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.19
+9% in Hartford, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / CT)
7.25%
6.35%
+0.9 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
6.99%
+6.3 pp in CA

Bakersfield vs Hartford — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or Hartford?
Hartford, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Bakersfield, CA's $1,340, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield than in Hartford?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bakersfield versus $42,000 in Hartford.
Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or Hartford?
Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Hartford under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).