CostIndexUSA

Bakersfield, CA vs Hartford, CT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableCA
Bakersfield
100.9
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
CT
Hartford
102.7
overall index
$1,875/mo rent

Bakersfield is slightly cheaper than Hartford — 1.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bakersfield, you would need $81,400 in Hartford. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+22.0%
Bakersfield
90.3
Hartford
110.2
🛒 Groceries7.5%
Bakersfield
105.2
Hartford
97.3
🚗 Transportation+2.4%
Bakersfield
105.3
Hartford
107.8
🏥 Healthcare+2.3%
Bakersfield
95.3
Hartford
97.5
Utilities8.5%
Bakersfield
158.3
Hartford
144.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Hartford, CT
$81,400
$1,400 more needed in Hartford

Formula: salary × (102.7 ÷ 100.9) = salary × 1.0178. 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×

Hartford, CT

Median Home Price
$377,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
110.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.8×

Hartford has 22.0% 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

Hartford, CT

Median Household Income
$92,200
Per Capita Income
$52,600
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
121,054
Top Industries
FinanceInsuranceHealthcareGovernmentEducation

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)

Hartford, CT
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.