Cost of living index
Bakersfield, CA
100.9 / 100
Living in Bakersfield, CA is 0.9% more expensive than the US average.
Overall prices
100.9
Housing / rent
90.3
vs US average
+0.9%
What it costs to live in Bakersfield, CA
Bakersfield, CA has an overall price level of 100.9 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 0.9% higher than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 90.3 it is 9.7% below the national average. Because rent and mortgage payments are the biggest line in most household budgets, that housing figure is usually what you’ll feel most when you move here.
Common questions
Is Bakersfield, CA an expensive place to live?
Bakersfield, CA has an overall cost-of-living index of 100.9, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 0.9% more expensive than the country as a whole.
Is housing expensive in Bakersfield, CA?
Housing in Bakersfield, CA scores 90.3 against a US average of 100 — roughly 9.7% below average. Housing is usually the largest single cost, so it drives most of the overall difference.
How does Bakersfield, CA compare to the US average cost of living?
Overall prices in Bakersfield, CA sit at 100.9 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 90.3. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.