Living Cost Compare
Bakersfield

California

$1,330/mo est.

vs
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,400/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 $1,400 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Bakersfield, CA is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,397 in Bakersfield, CA and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 22% higher in Bakersfield, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Bakersfield, CA
Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio
$1,027
$1,126
+10% in Philadelphia, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,007
$1,189
+18% in Philadelphia, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,233
$1,394
+13% in Philadelphia, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,656
$1,406
+15% in Bakersfield, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$347,300
$232,400
+33% in Bakersfield, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$77,397
$60,698
+22% in Bakersfield, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,470
$54,310
+14% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.9 yr
35.1 yr
+3.2 yr in Philadelphia, PA
Homeownership
60.1%
52.3%
+7.8 pp in Bakersfield, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.3%
34.6%
+11.3 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Avg Commute
24.1 min
32.0 min
+7.9 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
556.8
916.8
+65% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
2,488.7
4,614.3
+85% in Philadelphia, PA

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
57.1°F
+6.9°F in Bakersfield, CA
Annual Precipitation
8.0 in
48.5 in
+40.5 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.91/gal
$4.30/gal
+27% in Bakersfield, CA

Area: California vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$2.50
+43% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
20.9
+37% in Bakersfield, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$16.67
+20% in Bakersfield, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.14
+5% in Bakersfield, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.92
+9% in Bakersfield, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.25
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.90
+5% in Bakersfield, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.02
+5% in Bakersfield, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.68
+9% in Bakersfield, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / PA)
7.25%
6%
+1.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
3.07%
+10.2 pp in CA

Bakersfield vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or Philadelphia?
Bakersfield, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,400, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield than in Philadelphia?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bakersfield versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or Philadelphia?
Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% 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).