Uprootmap
San Francisco vs Bakersfield
San Francisco 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 Francisco to Bakersfield
In 2022-2023, 278 households filed a move from San Francisco to Bakersfield (about 494 people, average adjusted gross income $82,381). 302 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $2,635 in San Francisco and $1,218 in Bakersfield. San Francisco 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 134% in San Francisco.
Bakersfield averages 263 sunny days, with July highs around 99°F and January nights around 40°F. San Francisco is 259 sunny days, 68°F in July, 46°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Bakersfield and 32 in San Francisco.
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, 278 households moved San Francisco → Bakersfield (about 494 people, average AGI $82,381). 302 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 Francisco and Bakersfield changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 310 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $2,050–$3,850
- Container or pod
- $1,400–$2,650
- Rent a truck
- $600–$1,100
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Dig into Bakersfield
Questions
Is Bakersfield cheaper than San Francisco after tax and rent?
Yes. Bakersfield leaves about $1,580 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $2,635 in San Francisco 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 Francisco 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.