Uprootmap
San Diego vs Bakersfield
San Diego 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 San Diego to Bakersfield
In 2022-2023, 346 households filed a move from San Diego to Bakersfield (about 646 people, average adjusted gross income $63,049). 441 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $2,292 in San Diego and $1,218 in Bakersfield. San Diego 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 109% in San Diego.
Bakersfield averages 263 sunny days, with July highs around 99°F and January nights around 40°F. San Diego is 266 sunny days, 78°F in July, 50°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Bakersfield and 27 in San Diego.
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, 346 households moved San Diego → Bakersfield (about 646 people, average AGI $63,049). 441 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 San Diego and Bakersfield changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 235 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,950–$3,700
- Container or pod
- $1,350–$2,500
- Rent a truck
- $550–$1,000
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Dig into Bakersfield
Questions
Is Bakersfield cheaper than San Diego after tax and rent?
Yes. Bakersfield leaves about $1,171 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $2,292 in San Diego and $1,218 in Bakersfield.
Does Bakersfield have state income tax?
Bakersfield is in California, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from San Diego 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.