Uprootmap
San Luis Obispo vs Bakersfield
San Luis Obispo 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 Luis Obispo to Bakersfield
In 2022-2023, 169 households filed a move from San Luis Obispo to Bakersfield (about 296 people, average adjusted gross income $62,852). 267 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $2,013 in San Luis Obispo and $1,218 in Bakersfield. San Luis Obispo 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 88% in San Luis Obispo.
Bakersfield averages 263 sunny days, with July highs around 99°F and January nights around 40°F. San Luis Obispo is 263 sunny days, 101°F in July, 40°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Bakersfield and 21 in San Luis Obispo.
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, 169 households moved San Luis Obispo → Bakersfield (about 296 people, average AGI $62,852). 267 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 Luis Obispo and Bakersfield changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 117 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,650–$3,100
- Container or pod
- $1,100–$2,100
- Rent a truck
- $400–$750
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Dig into Bakersfield
Questions
Is Bakersfield cheaper than San Luis Obispo after tax and rent?
Yes. Bakersfield leaves about $670 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $2,013 in San Luis Obispo 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 Luis Obispo 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.