Living Cost Compare
Bakersfield

California

$1,330/mo est.

vs
Salem

Oregon

$1,170/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 $1,170 in Salem, OR. Overall, Salem, OR is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bakersfield, CA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $77,397 in Bakersfield, CA and $71,900 in Salem, OR — about 7% higher in Bakersfield, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Bakersfield, CA
Salem, OR

Rent

Studio
$1,027
$1,075
+5% in Salem, OR
1 Bedroom
$1,007
$989
+2% in Bakersfield, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,233
$1,337
+8% in Salem, OR
3 Bedroom
$1,656
$1,778
+7% in Salem, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$347,300
$382,400
+10% in Salem, OR

Income

Median Household Income
$77,397
$71,900
+7% in Bakersfield, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,470
$55,310
+17% in Salem, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.9 yr
35.7 yr
+3.8 yr in Salem, OR
Homeownership
60.1%
55.7%
+4.4 pp in Bakersfield, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.3%
31.4%
+8.1 pp in Salem, OR
Avg Commute
24.1 min
22.4 min
+1.7 min in Bakersfield, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
556.8
540.6
+3% in Bakersfield, CA
Property Crime
2,488.9
2,878.6
+16% in Salem, OR

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
53.0°F
+11.0°F in Bakersfield, CA
Annual Precipitation
8.0 in
39.7 in
+31.6 in in Salem, OR

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
16.3
+51% in Bakersfield, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$20.59
+1% 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 / OR)
7.25%
None
+7.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
9.90%
+3.4 pp in CA

Bakersfield vs Salem — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or Salem?
Salem, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Bakersfield, CA's $1,330, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield than in Salem?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bakersfield versus $40,000 in Salem.
Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or Salem?
Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% 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).