CostIndexUSA

Bakersfield, CA vs Palm Bay, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Bakersfield
100.9
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
More AffordableFL
Palm Bay
100
overall index
$1,875/mo rent

Palm Bay is slightly cheaper than Bakersfield — 0.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bakersfield, you would need $79,300 in Palm Bay. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+23.7%
Bakersfield
90.3
Palm Bay
111.7
🛒 Groceries8.6%
Bakersfield
105.2
Palm Bay
96.2
🚗 Transportation1.4%
Bakersfield
105.3
Palm Bay
103.8
🏥 Healthcare1.5%
Bakersfield
95.3
Palm Bay
93.9
Utilities44.3%
Bakersfield
158.3
Palm Bay
88.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Palm Bay, FL
$79,300
$700 less needed in Palm Bay

Formula: salary × (100 ÷ 100.9) = salary × 0.9911. 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×

Palm Bay, FL

Median Home Price
$336,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
111.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.9×

Palm Bay has 23.7% 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

Palm Bay, FL

Median Household Income
$78,600
Per Capita Income
$44,800
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
119,760
Top Industries
AerospaceHealthcareTechnologyManufacturingRetail

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)

Palm Bay, FL
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.