Cost of Living in Bakersfield, CA
| Cost of Living in Bakersfield, CA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 49% lower | 1% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 28% higher | 58% higher |
| Food | 7% lower | 6% higher |
| Healthcare | 13% lower | 6% lower |
| Transportation | 1% higher | 31% higher |
| Goods & Services | 5% lower | 5% higher |
The cost of living in Bakersfield, CA is 20% lower than the state average and 11% higher than the national average. Bakersfield, CA housing is 1% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 58% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 5% more in Bakersfield, CA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 5% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 6% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 5% pricier in Bakersfield, CA.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Bakersfield is $1,511, while home prices circle around $501,372.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Bakersfield, energy bills cost around $390.92 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.95 in Bakersfield, a dozen eggs go for around $4.48 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.76.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Bakersfield, an optometry check-up costs around $114.31, while a dentist appointment is priced $120.58 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $4.75 in Bakersfield, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $62.61.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $24.30 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $30.24.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Bakersfield, you should budget around $11.06 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $27.50, while dry cleaning costs about $20.15.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Bakersfield, the median household income is $73,827.