Living Cost Compare
Bakersfield

California

$1,330/mo est.

vs
Reno

Nevada

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Reno, NV. Overall, Bakersfield, CA is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Reno, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,397 in Bakersfield, CA and $78,448 in Reno, NV — about 1% higher in Reno, NV. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Bakersfield, CA
Reno, NV

Rent

Studio
$1,027
$964
+6% in Bakersfield, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,007
$1,206
+20% in Reno, NV
2 Bedroom
$1,233
$1,518
+23% in Reno, NV
3 Bedroom
$1,656
$1,885
+14% in Reno, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$347,300
$498,600
+44% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income
$77,397
$78,448
+1% in Reno, NV
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,470
$49,660
+5% in Reno, NV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.9 yr
37.3 yr
+5.4 yr in Reno, NV
Homeownership
60.1%
49.4%
+10.7 pp in Bakersfield, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.3%
35.7%
+12.4 pp in Reno, NV
Avg Commute
24.1 min
20.6 min
+3.5 min in Bakersfield, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
556.8
528.9
+5% in Bakersfield, CA
Property Crime
2,488.9
2,489.3
+0% in Reno, NV

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
53.8°F
+10.2°F in Bakersfield, CA
Annual Precipitation
8.0 in
7.4 in
+0.6 in in Bakersfield, CA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.40/gal
$5.09/gal
+6% in Bakersfield, CA

Area: California vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.3
13.6
+59% in Bakersfield, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$12.09
+42% in Bakersfield, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / NV)
7.25%
6.85%
+0.4 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
None
+13.3 pp in CA

Bakersfield vs Reno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or Reno?
Bakersfield, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield than in Reno?
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 Reno.
Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or Reno?
Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).