Living Cost Compare
Bakersfield

California

$1,330/mo est.

vs
Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,050/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 $2,050 in Honolulu, HI. Overall, Bakersfield, CA is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,397 in Bakersfield, CA and $85,428 in Honolulu, HI — about 9% higher in Honolulu, HI. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Bakersfield, CA
Honolulu, HI

Rent

Studio
$1,027
$1,390
+35% in Honolulu, HI
1 Bedroom
$1,007
$1,570
+56% in Honolulu, HI
2 Bedroom
$1,233
$1,983
+61% in Honolulu, HI
3 Bedroom
$1,656
$2,433
+47% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$347,300
$834,100
+140% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income
$77,397
$85,428
+10% in Honolulu, HI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,470
$57,220
+21% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.9 yr
42.9 yr
+11.0 yr in Honolulu, HI
Homeownership
60.1%
48.6%
+11.5 pp in Bakersfield, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.3%
40.8%
+17.5 pp in Honolulu, HI
Avg Commute
24.1 min
22.3 min
+1.8 min in Bakersfield, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
556.8
214.1
+62% in Bakersfield, CA
Property Crime
2,488.7
1,919.8
+23% 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
77.7°F
+13.7°F in Honolulu, HI
Annual Precipitation
8.0 in
17.1 in
+9.1 in in Honolulu, HI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.91/gal
$5.57/gal
+6% in Bakersfield, CA

Area: California vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$3.00
+71% in Honolulu, HI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
42.2
+27% in Honolulu, HI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$60.89
+194% in Honolulu, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.37
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.25
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$7.23
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.14
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.74
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / HI)
7.25%
4%
+3.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
11.00%
+2.3 pp in CA

Bakersfield vs Honolulu — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or Honolulu?
Bakersfield, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Honolulu, HI's $2,050, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield than in Honolulu?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bakersfield versus $63,000 in Honolulu.
Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or Honolulu?
Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Honolulu under Hawaii's (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% 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).