Median rent is 27% lower in Bakersfield ($1,371/mo vs $1,879/mo). Buying is cheaper in Bakersfield, where the median home runs $347,300 versus $879,500. Households earn more in Los Angeles ($80,366 vs $77,397 a year).
City A
Bakersfield, CA
City B
Los Angeles, CA
How much would you need to earn in Los Angeles, CA 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 city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Bakersfield
California
Los Angeles
California
👥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: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Bakersfield — median rent of $1,371/mo versus $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, a 27% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Los Angeles: the median home is $879,500 versus $347,300 in Bakersfield — 61% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
California's top income tax rate is 13.30% versus 13.30% in California, so Los Angeles is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 7.25% in California and 7.25% in California; Los Angeles has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Bakersfield
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
Los Angeles
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
Bakersfield has cleaner air on average: 46.0 AQI (Good) compared to 77.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Bakersfield if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,371/mo median).
Pick Bakersfield if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 46.0).
Is Bakersfield cheaper than Los Angeles?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Bakersfield vs Los Angeles?
Median rent is $1,371/mo in Bakersfield, CA and $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, CA. Bakersfield, CA has the lower rent by about 27%.
Which has higher salaries — Bakersfield or Los Angeles?
Median household income is $77,397 in Bakersfield, CA and $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA. Los Angeles, CA 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?
Bakersfield, CA has better air quality on average: 46.0 AQI versus 77.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Bakersfield or Los Angeles?
California's top income tax rate is 13.30% and California's is 13.30%. Los Angeles, CA has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Los Angeles to match my Bakersfield income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology