Cost of Living
per year
per month
How Bakersfield's prices compare to the US city average across major spending categories.
Index: 100 = US city average. Values >100 mean more expensive, <100 means cheaper.
How far does your salary go in Bakersfield?
Your $100,000 in Bakersfield has the same purchasing power as $98,834 in the average US city. You'd need $1,166 more here to maintain that standard of living.
Demographics and workforce data from the US Census ACS 5-Year.
bachelor's or higher
Climate, safety, and walkability indicators.
See a side-by-side breakdown of cost of living, housing, and salaries.
Popular comparisons
Sorted by affordability — most affordable first.
Bakersfield, California has a cost-of-living index of 101, which is 1% above the national average. The typical renter pays $1,283 per month. The median household earns $73,827 per year.
To match the lifestyle of a $70,000 earner in the average US city, you'd need about $70,826 per year in Bakersfield. Single renters typically want at least three times the $15,396 threshold to cover housing comfortably.
Bakersfield is near the US city average. Overall prices are 1% above the national average.