Living Cost Compare
Bakersfield

California

$1,330/mo est.

vs
Naperville

Illinois

$1,830/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 $1,830 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Bakersfield, CA is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,397 in Bakersfield, CA and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 49% higher in Naperville, IL. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Bakersfield, CA
Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio
$1,027
$1,713
+67% in Naperville, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,007
$1,594
+58% in Naperville, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,233
$1,889
+53% in Naperville, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,656
$2,446
+48% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$347,300
$509,900
+47% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$77,397
$150,937
+95% in Naperville, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,470
$54,720
+15% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.9 yr
40.1 yr
+8.2 yr in Naperville, IL
Homeownership
60.1%
74.3%
+14.2 pp in Naperville, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.3%
71.7%
+48.4 pp in Naperville, IL
Avg Commute
24.1 min
31.4 min
+7.3 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
556.8
85.7
+85% in Bakersfield, CA
Property Crime
2,488.9
892.2
+64% 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
49.9°F
+14.1°F in Bakersfield, CA
Annual Precipitation
8.0 in
36.9 in
+28.9 in in Naperville, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.40/gal
$3.94/gal
+27% in Bakersfield, CA

Area: California vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.3
23.9
+28% in Bakersfield, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$15.39
+26% in Bakersfield, CA

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
$1.66
+19% in Bakersfield, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Naperville, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Bakersfield, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Naperville, IL
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Bakersfield, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / IL)
7.25%
6.25%
+1.0 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
4.95%
+8.4 pp in CA

Bakersfield vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or Naperville?
Bakersfield, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield than in Naperville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bakersfield versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or Naperville?
Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% 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).