Median rent is 23% lower in Bakersfield ($1,472/mo vs $1,914/mo). Buying is cheaper in Bakersfield, where the median home runs $371,700 versus $584,800. Households earn more in Riverside ($91,045 vs $80,540 a year).
City A
Bakersfield, CA
City B
Riverside, CA
How much would you need to earn in Riverside, 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 metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Bakersfield
California
Riverside
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: 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 $1,914/mo in Riverside, a 23% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Riverside: the median home is $584,800 versus $371,700 in Bakersfield — 36% 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
Riverside
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Bakersfield has cleaner air on average: 57.0 AQI (Moderate) compared to 65.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Riverside if you prioritize higher median household income ($91,045/yr).
Pick Bakersfield if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,472/mo median).
Pick Bakersfield if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 57.0).
Is Bakersfield cheaper than Riverside?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Bakersfield vs Riverside?
Median rent is $1,472/mo in Bakersfield, CA and $1,914/mo in Riverside, CA. Bakersfield, CA has the lower rent by about 23%.
Which has higher salaries — Bakersfield or Riverside?
Median household income is $80,540 in Bakersfield, CA and $91,045 in Riverside, CA. Riverside, 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: 57.0 AQI versus 65.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Bakersfield or Riverside?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Riverside 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
