CostIndexUSA

Bakersfield, CA vs Tampa, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostCA
Bakersfield
100.9
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
FL
Tampa
100.9
overall index
$1,975/mo rent

Bakersfield and Tampa have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+39.3%
Bakersfield
90.3
Tampa
125.8
🛒 Groceries9.2%
Bakersfield
105.2
Tampa
95.5
🚗 Transportation2.8%
Bakersfield
105.3
Tampa
102.4
🏥 Healthcare2.7%
Bakersfield
95.3
Tampa
92.7
Utilities44.1%
Bakersfield
158.3
Tampa
88.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Tampa, FL
$80,000
Same salary works in both cities

Formula: salary × (100.9 ÷ 100.9) = salary × 1.0000. 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×

Tampa, FL

Median Home Price
$352,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,975
Housing Index
125.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.9×

Tampa has 39.3% 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

Tampa, FL

Median Household Income
$72,700
Per Capita Income
$41,400
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Population
399,700
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareTourismTechnologyLogistics

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)

Tampa, FL
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.