Skip to main content
LiveWhere us
Bakersfield-Delano, CA

Cost of living in Bakersfield, California

Kern County, CA

Part of the Bakersfield Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,030/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 910,433 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,064 35%
Healthcare $480 16%
Federal tax $422 14%
Groceries $397 13%
Transport $320 11%
Energy $217 7%
State tax $70 2%
Water $60 2%

Rent in Bakersfield

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$1,058
per month
1 bedroom
$1,064
per month
2 bedroom
$1,380
per month
3 bedroom
$1,934
per month
4 bedroom
$2,317
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Bakersfield

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$67,660
per year
Individual earnings
$35,890
per year
Per capita
$29,238
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Bakersfield

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$310,600
Annual property tax
$2,833

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Bakersfield

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$167
per month · 30.4¢/kWh
Natural gas
$50
per month
Annual total
$2,604
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Bakersfield

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
7.8%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Bakersfield

State and local tax rates for California.

State income tax
13.3%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
7.3%
Combined sales tax
8.8%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Bakersfield

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
24.4 min
Drive alone
79.2%
Public transit
0.5%
Work from home
6.6%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Bakersfield

What it costs to live in Bakersfield each month.

Single person
$3,030
per month
  • Rent $1,064
  • Energy $217
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $397
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $422
  • State tax $70
Couple
$4,675
per month
  • Rent $1,380
  • Energy $260
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $658
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $777
  • State tax $246
Family
$7,436
per month
  • Rent $1,934
  • Energy $326
  • Water $85
  • Groceries $998
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $777
  • State tax $246

Frequently asked questions about Bakersfield

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Bakersfield?

In Bakersfield, California, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,064 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,380 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,934 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Bakersfield?

In Bakersfield, California, the average household income is $67,660 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $35,890 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Bakersfield?

The estimated cost of living in Bakersfield, California is approximately $3,030 per month for a single person, $4,675 for a couple, $7,436 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Bakersfield?

The combined sales tax rate in Bakersfield, California is 8.85%, which includes the California state rate of 7.25% plus an average local rate of 1.60%.

Is Bakersfield an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Bakersfield, California would need approximately $3,030 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $67,660 per year ($5,638 per month). Bakersfield has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Bakersfield?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Bakersfield, California is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 7.8% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Bakersfield?

The average home value in Bakersfield, California is $310,600, with average annual property taxes of $2,833, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Bakersfield compare to other areas?

You can compare Bakersfield, California with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Bakersfield is in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area.

Other counties in California

Browse the full list of counties in California, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in California

Compare Bakersfield with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources