Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or Houston?

Bakersfield, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Houston, TX's $1,350, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield than in Houston?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bakersfield versus $46,000 in Houston.

Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or Houston?

Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Houston under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Bakersfield vs Houston Cost of Living 2026

Bakersfield

California

$1,330/mo est.

Houston

Texas

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Houston, TX. Overall, Bakersfield, CA is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Houston, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,397 in Bakersfield, CA and $62,894 in Houston, TX — about 19% higher in Bakersfield, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Bakersfield, CA

Houston, TX

Rent

Studio

$1,027

$1,142

+11% in Houston, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,007

$1,156

+15% in Houston, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,233

$1,375

+12% in Houston, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,656

$1,664

+0% in Houston, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$347,300

$253,400

+27% in Bakersfield, CA

Income

Median Household Income

$77,397

$62,894

+19% in Bakersfield, CA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,470

$49,410

+4% in Houston, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

31.9 yr

34.3 yr

+2.4 yr in Houston, TX

Homeownership

60.1%

42.0%

+18.1 pp in Bakersfield, CA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

23.3%

36.0%

+12.7 pp in Houston, TX

Avg Commute

24.1 min

27.3 min

+3.2 min in Houston, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

556.8

1,155.2

+107% in Houston, TX

Property Crime

2,488.7

4,325.3

+74% in Houston, TX

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

70.3°F

+6.3°F in Houston, TX

Annual Precipitation

8.0 in

54.6 in

+46.6 in in Houston, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.91/gal

$3.85/gal

+35% in Bakersfield, CA

Area: California vs Houston.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.75

$1.25

+29% in Bakersfield, CA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

33.4

16.4

+51% in Bakersfield, CA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.72

$24.61

+19% in Houston, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

$4.16

+5% in Bakersfield, CA

Bread (lb)

$2.10

$1.73

+18% in Bakersfield, CA

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

$2.19

+3% in Bakersfield, CA

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

$6.56

+9% in Bakersfield, CA

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

$1.90

+11% in Bakersfield, CA

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

$0.61

+17% in Bakersfield, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / TX)

7.25%

6.25%

+1.0 pp in CA

Income Tax (top rate)

13.30%

None

+13.3 pp in CA

Bakersfield vs Houston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or Houston?: Bakersfield, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Houston, TX's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield than in Houston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bakersfield versus $46,000 in Houston.
Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or Houston?: Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Houston under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).