Cost of Living in Bakersfield, CA, United States

Updated On June 16, 2023

How Much Does It Cost to Live In Bakersfield, CA?

When deliberating on moving to another city or a country, it is suggested to search through the Internet and find the best places to live based on the quality of life and the job market as without a job you would not be able to provide for yourself and your family and Bakersfield is an ideal place for people who consider settling there.

Not only does it allow people to find a well-paid and decent job, but also is an affordable place to raise a family, so you might consider coming here with your children.

Cost of Living Index:
72.4
* Based on Research & User Data
Restaurants

RESTAURANTS

Due to its multicultural population, there is a wide variety of restaurants offering international food in Bakersfield.

The prices are around the national average, while the price of alcohol is pretty high here, meaning that you can expect to pay more than $7 for a bottle of beer.

Markets

MARKETS

If you are a wise person, you will avoid buying groceries in shops selling international foods and goods, as they are always more expensive than domestic produce.

In general, food is the greatest of all expenses, and saving on it would be of great benefit to your budget.

Transportation

TRANSPORTATION

Depending on where you live and how far it is from your working place, you will decide if it is worth walking or cycling.

Many people living in Bakersfield drive to work, even though the price of gasoline is higher than in the rest of the country.

Public transport is reliable, efficient, and affordable means of commuting.

Utilities

UTILITIES (MONTHLY)

Utilities contribute to the general cost of living and Bakersfield currently boasts not-so-high service prices when compared to other cities in the United States.

Internet access is around $69, depending on the speed, which is in line with the national average.

Sports and leisure

SPORTS & LEISURE

The low prices of fitness clubs in Bakersfield are due to the hundreds of miles of bike lanes and 60 parks which can be found throughout the city.

Sports people have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors without spending their money.

Clothing and shoes

CLOTHING & SHOES

When it comes to clothing, it is suggested to look for those areas where you will find lots of cheap places selling clothing items.

There are also many designer shops and boutiques, as well as shopping malls, which offer branded items at not-so-high prices.

Rent per month

RENT PER MONTH

Moving can sometimes be a stressful experience, especially if you have difficulties finding the ideal place to live.

The renting opportunities are numerous in Bakersfield and the prices are so affordable when compared to other cities in California.

You can rent a one-bedroom apartment for less than $1400, while larger ones are around $2,350.

Cost of Living Averages Table for Bakersfield, CA

*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.
Average Restaurant Prices
Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant)$20.0
Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter)$7.00
Water (0.33 Liter)$2.25
Average Market Prices
Milk (1 Liter)$0.98
Loaf Bread (500g)$3.71
Eggs (12)$4.54
Average Transport Prices
One Way Ticket$2.83
Monthly Pass$47.00
Gasoline$1.28
Average Utilities Prices
Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling)$312.50
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local$0.10
Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)$68.89
Average Leisure Prices
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult$31.25
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour)$25.00
Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release$12.00
Average Clothing Prices
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable)$38.75
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...)$46.25
1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range)$88.33
Average Rent Prices
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center$1400.00
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center$1344.17
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center$2350.00

How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Bakersfield, CA?

When we compare it to other major cities in California, Bakersfield is more affordable than them.

It is true that the cost of living is higher than the national average, but this is due to the high average monthly salaries.

In order to be able to put some money aside, it is suggested to follow the spending habits of Bakersfield residents who spend the most money on everyday expenses like food, rent, utilities, and transportation, and very little on sports and clothing.

Average Costs Breakdown

12.8%
34.2%
8.1%
9.2%
3.6%
2.3%
29.7%

Bakersfield, CA: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages

Bakersfield is frequently compared with Los Angeles and the data shows that Bakersfield residents spend less money than those in Los Angeles, which makes Bakersfield a better place to live and work.

It is possible for a newcomer to purchase a home in Bakersfield, so as to save on the rent, and the mortgage interest rate is around 7.62%.

Job opportunities are numerous and very attractive to both United States residents and foreigners.

Bakersfield residents find plenty of ways to enjoy their living here, as the living conditions are decent and stable.

Average Salary$3366.02
Minimum Wage$1256.7
Mortgage Interest Rate7.62%

Bakersfield Safety Overview

READ THE FULL REPORT: Bakersfield Safety Review

Safety Index:
66
  • OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
  • TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
  • PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
  • NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
  • MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
  • TERRORISM RISK: LOW
  • SCAMS RISK: LOW
  • WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM

Cost of Living by City in Bakersfield, CA

CityCost of Living Index
Albany, NY72.4
Albuquerque, NM72.4
Anchorage, AK72.4
Ann Arbor, MI72.4
Arlington, TX72.4
Asheville, NC72.4
Atlanta, GA72.4
Austin, TX72.4
Baltimore, MD72.4
Bellevue, WA72.4
Bellingham, WA72.4
Berkeley, CA72.4
Birmingham, AL72.4
Boise, ID72.4
Boston, MA72.4
Boulder, CO72.4
Brooklyn, NY72.4
Buffalo, NY72.4
Burlington, VT72.4
Charleston, SC72.4
Charlotte, NC73.33
Chattanooga, TN72.4
Chicago, IL72.4
Cincinnati, OH72.4
Cleveland, OH72.4
Columbia, SC72.4
Columbus, OH72.4
Dallas, TX72.4
Dayton, OH72.4
Denver, CO72.4
Des Moines, IA72.4
Detroit, MI72.4
El Paso, TX72.4
Eugene, OR72.4
Everett, WA72.4
Fayetteville, AR72.4
Fort Myers, FL72.4
Fort Wayne, IN72.4
Fort Worth, TX72.4
Fresno, CA74.2
Gainesville, FL74.2
Grand Rapids, MI74.2
Greensboro, NC74.2
Hartford, CT74.2
Honolulu, HI74.2
Houston, TX74.2
Huntsville, AL74.2
Indianapolis, IN74.2
Irvine, CA74.2
Jacksonville, FL74.2
Jersey City, NJ74.2
Kansas City, MO74.2
Knoxville, TN74.2
Las Vegas, NV74.2
Lexington, KY74.2
Little Rock, AR74.2
Long Beach, CA74.2
Los Angeles, CA74.2
Louisville, KY74.2
Lubbock, TX74.2
Madison, WI74.2
Memphis, TN74.2
Miami, FL74.2
Milwaukee, WI74.2
Minneapolis, MN74.2
Nashville, TN74.2
New Orleans, LA74.2
New York, NY74.2
Oakland, CA74.2
Oklahoma City, OK74.2
Olympia, WA74.2
Orlando, FL74.2
Peoria, IL72.4
Philadelphia, PA72.4
Phoenix, AZ72.4
Pittsburgh, PA72.4
Portland, ME72.4
Portland, OR72.4
Raleigh, NC72.4
Reno, NV72.4
Richmond, VA74.2
Rochester, NY74.2
Sacramento, CA74.2
Saint Louis, MO74.2
Saint Paul, MN74.2
Saint Petersburg, FL74.2
Salem, OR74.2
Salt Lake City, UT74.2
San Antonio, TX74.2
San Diego, CA74.2
San Francisco, CA74.2
San Jose, CA74.2
Santa Barbara, CA74.2
Santa Rosa, CA74.2
Seattle, WA74.2
Spokane, WA74.2
Springfield, MO74.2
Syracuse, NY74.2
Tacoma, WA74.2
Tallahassee, FL74.2
Tampa, FL74.2
Toledo, OH74.2
Tucson, AZ74.2
Tulsa, OK74.2
Vancouver, WA74.2
Virginia Beach, VA74.2
Washington, DC74.2
West Palm Beach, FL74.2
Wichita, KS74.2

Where to Next?

See these related locations:

Or, browse the country/city indexes:

Cost of Living - Country Index Cost of Living - City Index

Share Your Experience

Share
Facebook Pinterest