What is the cost of living in Bakersfield, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Bakersfield has an overall cost of living index of 124, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Bakersfield has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Bakersfield ranks as #124 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Bakersfield ranks as the #510 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Bakersfield, check out:
Bakersfield Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Bakersfield. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Bakersfield is 113.
The Groceries index in Bakersfield is 117.
The Health index in Bakersfield is 137.
The Housing index in Bakersfield is 121.
The Transportation index in Bakersfield is 118.
The Utilities index in Bakersfield is 122.
| Living Expense | Bakersfield | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 124 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 113 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 117 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 137 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 121 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 118 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 122 | 121 | 100 |
Bakersfield Cost Of Living Compared To California Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Bakersfield Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Bakersfield, CA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in California, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Bakersfield is $396,047.
The Median Rent in Bakersfield is $1,472.
The Median Income in Bakersfield is $80,540.
The Home Value To Income in Bakersfield is 4.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Bakersfield is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Bakersfield | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $396,047 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,472 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $80,540 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.9x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Bakersfield, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Bakersfield Services costs vs. California
| Item | Bakersfield | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.48 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $18.12 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $22.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.25 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $89.33 | $45.56 |
Detailed Bakersfield Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Bakersfield | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.77 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.63 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.91 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.9 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.13 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.75 | $3.7 |
Detailed Bakersfield Health costs vs. California
| Item | Bakersfield | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $142.2 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $131.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $131.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Bakersfield Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Bakersfield | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.62 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Bakersfield Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Bakersfield | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $231.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $193.81 | $192.25 |
Bakersfield SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Bakersfield
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Bakersfield. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Oildale, CA has a cost of living index of 108, 0.9x Bakersfield.
Shafter, CA has a cost of living index of 113, 0.9x Bakersfield.
Arvin, CA has a cost of living index of 111, 0.9x Bakersfield.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oildale, CA | 34,687 | 108 | 0.9x |
| Shafter, CA | 21,193 | 113 | 0.9x |
| Arvin, CA | 19,539 | 111 | 0.9x |
| Rosedale, CA | 18,877 | 142 | 1.1x |
| Lamont, CA | 13,164 | 107 | 0.9x |
