Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,340 in Bakersfield, CA versus $1,690 in Meridian, ID. Overall, Bakersfield, CA is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Meridian, ID, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $77,397 in Bakersfield, CA and $98,686 in Meridian, ID — about 22% higher in Meridian, ID. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: California vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).
Public Transit
Adult base one-way fare — GET Bus vs — (2026).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — West vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Bakersfield vs Meridian — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or Meridian?
- Bakersfield, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield than in Meridian?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bakersfield versus $62,000 in Meridian.
- Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or Meridian?
- Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Meridian under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% 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).