CostIndexUSA

Bakersfield, CA vs Fort Worth, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableCA
Bakersfield
100.9
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
TX
Fort Worth
103.1
overall index
$1,775/mo rent

Bakersfield is slightly cheaper than Fort Worth — 2.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bakersfield, you would need $81,700 in Fort Worth. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+30.6%
Bakersfield
90.3
Fort Worth
117.9
🛒 Groceries2.3%
Bakersfield
105.2
Fort Worth
102.8
🚗 Transportation0.6%
Bakersfield
105.3
Fort Worth
104.7
🏥 Healthcare0.6%
Bakersfield
95.3
Fort Worth
94.7
Utilities42.7%
Bakersfield
158.3
Fort Worth
90.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Bakersfield to see what you'd need to earn in Fort Worth to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Fort Worth, TX
$81,700
$1,700 more needed in Fort Worth

Formula: salary × (103.1 ÷ 100.9) = salary × 1.0218. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bakersfield, CA

Median Home Price
$358,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,750
Housing Index
90.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.0×

Fort Worth, TX

Median Home Price
$450,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,775
Housing Index
117.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.1×

Fort Worth has 30.6% higher housing costs compared to Bakersfield.

Income & Job Market

Bakersfield, CA

Median Household Income
$68,900
Per Capita Income
$39,300
Unemployment Rate
8.4%
Population
384,145
Top Industries
AgricultureEnergyHealthcareLogisticsManufacturing

Fort Worth, TX

Median Household Income
$86,900
Per Capita Income
$49,500
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
918,915
Top Industries
AerospaceManufacturingHealthcareLogisticsFinance

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Bakersfield, CA
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

70% of income left after rent (median)

Fort Worth, TX
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.