Living Cost Compare
Bakersfield

California

$1,340/mo est.

vs
West Valley City

Utah

$1,330/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 $1,330 in West Valley City, UT. Overall, West Valley City, UT is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bakersfield, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,397 in Bakersfield, CA and $88,604 in West Valley City, UT — about 13% higher in West Valley City, UT. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Bakersfield, CA
West Valley City, UT

Rent

Studio
$1,027
$1,085
+6% in West Valley City, UT
1 Bedroom
$1,007
$1,191
+18% in West Valley City, UT
2 Bedroom
$1,233
$1,333
+8% in West Valley City, UT
3 Bedroom
$1,656
$1,723
+4% in West Valley City, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$347,300
$377,300
+9% in West Valley City, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$77,397
$88,604
+14% in West Valley City, UT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,470
$55,240
+16% in West Valley City, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.9 yr
30.3 yr
+1.6 yr in Bakersfield, CA
Homeownership
60.1%
71.1%
+11.0 pp in West Valley City, UT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.3%
15.7%
+7.6 pp in Bakersfield, CA
Avg Commute
24.1 min
22.2 min
+1.9 min in Bakersfield, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
556.8
471.8
+15% in Bakersfield, CA
Property Crime
2,488.9
1,855.5
+25% 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
52.8°F
+11.2°F in Bakersfield, CA
Annual Precipitation
8.0 in
16.1 in
+8.1 in in West Valley City, UT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.52/gal
$4.27/gal
+23% in Bakersfield, CA

Area: California vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
34.7
13.4
+62% in Bakersfield, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.33
$11.84
+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 / UT)
7.25%
6.1%
+1.2 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
4.50%
+8.8 pp in CA

Bakersfield vs West Valley City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or West Valley City?
West Valley City, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Bakersfield, CA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bakersfield than in West Valley City?
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 West Valley City.
Which has lower taxes, Bakersfield or West Valley City?
Bakersfield is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); West Valley City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).