Living Cost Compare
Bakersfield

California

$1,340/mo est.

vs
Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,340 in Bakersfield, CA versus $1,660 in Nashua, NH. Overall, Bakersfield, CA is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashua, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,397 in Bakersfield, CA and $92,457 in Nashua, NH — about 16% higher in Nashua, 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
Nashua, NH

Rent

Studio
$1,027
$1,127
+10% in Nashua, NH
1 Bedroom
$1,007
$1,383
+37% in Nashua, NH
2 Bedroom
$1,233
$1,699
+38% in Nashua, NH
3 Bedroom
$1,656
$1,951
+18% in Nashua, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$347,300
$373,100
+7% in Nashua, NH

Income

Median Household Income
$77,397
$92,457
+19% in Nashua, NH
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,470
$56,530
+19% in Nashua, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.9 yr
39.7 yr
+7.8 yr in Nashua, NH
Homeownership
60.1%
56.4%
+3.7 pp in Bakersfield, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.3%
40.5%
+17.2 pp in Nashua, NH
Avg Commute
24.1 min
25.3 min
+1.2 min in Nashua, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
556.8
164.9
+70% in Bakersfield, CA
Property Crime
2,488.9
1,269
+49% 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 Nashua, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.52/gal
$3.94/gal
+29% 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)
34.7
27.0
+22% in Bakersfield, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.33
$21.67
+7% in Nashua, 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 Nashua, 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 Nashua — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or Nashua?
Bakersfield, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield than in Nashua?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bakersfield versus $55,000 in Nashua.
Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or Nashua?
Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Nashua 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).