Uprootmap
Santa Maria vs Bakersfield
Santa Maria 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 Santa Maria to Bakersfield
In 2022-2023, 180 households filed a move from Santa Maria to Bakersfield (about 357 people, average adjusted gross income $52,194). 161 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $2,323 in Santa Maria and $1,218 in Bakersfield. Santa Maria 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 Santa Maria.
Bakersfield averages 263 sunny days, with July highs around 99°F and January nights around 40°F. Santa Maria is 263 sunny days, 95°F in July, 40°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Bakersfield and 21 in Santa Maria.
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, 180 households moved Santa Maria → Bakersfield (about 357 people, average AGI $52,194). 161 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 Santa Maria and Bakersfield changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 112 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,650–$3,100
- Container or pod
- $1,100–$2,050
- Rent a truck
- $400–$750
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Dig into Bakersfield
Questions
Is Bakersfield cheaper than Santa Maria after tax and rent?
Yes. Bakersfield leaves about $968 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $2,323 in Santa Maria and $1,218 in Bakersfield.
Does Bakersfield have state income tax?
Bakersfield is in California, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Santa Maria 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.