Living Cost Compare
Bakersfield

California

$1,330/mo est.

vs
Manchester

New Hampshire

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Manchester, NH. Overall, Bakersfield, CA is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Manchester, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,397 in Bakersfield, CA and $77,415 in Manchester, NH. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Bakersfield, CA
Manchester, NH

Rent

Studio
$1,027
$880
+14% in Bakersfield, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,007
$1,150
+14% in Manchester, NH
2 Bedroom
$1,233
$1,593
+29% in Manchester, NH
3 Bedroom
$1,656
$1,661
+0% in Manchester, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$347,300
$336,300
+3% in Bakersfield, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$77,397
$77,415
+0% in Manchester, NH
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,470
$56,530
+19% in Manchester, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.9 yr
37.9 yr
+6.0 yr in Manchester, NH
Homeownership
60.1%
49.3%
+10.8 pp in Bakersfield, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.3%
33.5%
+10.2 pp in Manchester, NH
Avg Commute
24.1 min
23.8 min
+0.3 min in Bakersfield, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
556.8
339.5
+39% in Bakersfield, CA
Property Crime
2,488.9
1,691.4
+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
49.2°F
+14.8°F in Bakersfield, CA
Annual Precipitation
8.0 in
44.6 in
+36.5 in in Manchester, NH

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
27.3
+18% in Bakersfield, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$24.53
+18% in Manchester, NH

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 Manchester, NH
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 / NH)
7.25%
None
+7.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
None
+13.3 pp in CA

Bakersfield vs Manchester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or Manchester?
Bakersfield, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Manchester, NH's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield than in Manchester?
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 Manchester.
Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or Manchester?
Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Manchester under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no 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).