Uprootmap
Phoenix vs Bakersfield
Phoenix and Bakersfield
Photo: Robert Hale / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 2.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Bakersfield are above the US rate in this release, 12 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Phoenix to Bakersfield
In 2022-2023, 143 households filed a move from Phoenix to Bakersfield (about 276 people, average adjusted gross income $49,476). 299 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,277 in Phoenix and $1,218 in Bakersfield. Phoenix has a state tax on wages. Bakersfield has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Bakersfield is 83% of the national level for the same work, against 97% in Phoenix.
Bakersfield averages 263 sunny days, with July highs around 99°F and January nights around 40°F. Phoenix is 299 sunny days, 106°F in July, 46°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Bakersfield and 26 in Phoenix.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 143 households moved Phoenix → Bakersfield (about 276 people, average AGI $49,476). 299 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Phoenix and Bakersfield changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 490 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $2,100–$3,900
- Container or pod
- $1,450–$2,700
- Rent a truck
- $650–$1,250
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Dig into Bakersfield
Questions
Is Bakersfield cheaper than Phoenix after tax and rent?
No. Bakersfield leaves about $342 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,277 in Phoenix and $1,218 in Bakersfield.
Does Bakersfield have state income tax?
Bakersfield is in California, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Phoenix to Bakersfield?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.