Living Cost Compare
Bakersfield

California

$1,330/mo est.

vs
Shreveport

Louisiana

$1,000/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 $1,000 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bakersfield, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,397 in Bakersfield, CA and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 37% higher in Bakersfield, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Bakersfield, CA
Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio
$1,027
$756
+26% in Bakersfield, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,007
$843
+16% in Bakersfield, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,233
$978
+21% in Bakersfield, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,656
$1,136
+31% in Bakersfield, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$347,300
$178,100
+49% in Bakersfield, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$77,397
$48,465
+37% in Bakersfield, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,470
$44,820
+6% in Bakersfield, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.9 yr
37.5 yr
+5.6 yr in Shreveport, LA
Homeownership
60.1%
53.8%
+6.3 pp in Bakersfield, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.3%
27.5%
+4.2 pp in Shreveport, LA
Avg Commute
24.1 min
19.0 min
+5.1 min in Bakersfield, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
556.8
1,235.4
+122% in Shreveport, LA
Property Crime
2,488.9
4,048.2
+63% in Shreveport, LA

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
65.5°F
+1.5°F in Shreveport, LA
Annual Precipitation
8.0 in
51.0 in
+42.9 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.40/gal
$3.62/gal
+33% in Bakersfield, CA

Area: California vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.3
14.2
+57% in Bakersfield, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$16.62
+20% in Bakersfield, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Bakersfield, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Bakersfield, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Shreveport, LA
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Bakersfield, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Bakersfield, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Bakersfield, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / LA)
7.25%
5%
+2.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
3.00%
+10.3 pp in CA

Bakersfield vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or Shreveport?
Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Bakersfield, CA's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield than in Shreveport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bakersfield versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or Shreveport?
Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Shreveport under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% 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).