Median rent is 27% lower in Bakersfield ($1,472/mo vs $2,007/mo). Buying is cheaper in Bakersfield, where the median home runs $371,700 versus $566,900. Households earn more in Jersey City ($97,710 vs $80,540 a year).
City A
Bakersfield, CA
City B
Jersey City, NJ
How much would you need to earn in Jersey City, NJ to maintain your standard of living from Bakersfield, CA?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Bakersfield
California
Jersey City
New Jersey
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Bakersfield — median rent of $1,472/mo versus $2,007/mo in Jersey City, a 27% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Jersey City: the median home is $566,900 versus $371,700 in Bakersfield — 34% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Bakersfield
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Jersey City
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Jersey City has cleaner air on average: 46.0 AQI (Good) compared to 57.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Jersey City if you prioritize higher median household income ($97,710/yr).
Pick Bakersfield if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,472/mo median).
Pick Jersey City if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 46.0).
Is Bakersfield cheaper than Jersey City?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Bakersfield vs Jersey City?
Median rent is $1,472/mo in Bakersfield, CA and $2,007/mo in Jersey City, NJ. Bakersfield, CA has the lower rent by about 27%.
Which has higher salaries — Bakersfield or Jersey City?
Median household income is $80,540 in Bakersfield, CA and $97,710 in Jersey City, NJ. Jersey City, NJ has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Jersey City, NJ has better air quality on average: 46.0 AQI versus 57.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Bakersfield or Jersey City?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Jersey City to match my Bakersfield income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
