CostIndexUSA

Ann Arbor, MI vs Bakersfield, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostMI
Ann Arbor
100.9
overall index
$2,050/mo rent
CA
Bakersfield
100.9
overall index
$1,750/mo rent

Ann Arbor and Bakersfield have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing−27.9%
Ann Arbor
125.3
Bakersfield
90.3
🛒 Groceries+12.3%
Ann Arbor
93.7
Bakersfield
105.2
🚗 Transportation+0.8%
Ann Arbor
104.5
Bakersfield
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+0.7%
Ann Arbor
94.6
Bakersfield
95.3
⚡ Utilities+61.2%
Ann Arbor
98.2
Bakersfield
158.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Ann Arbor to see what you'd need to earn in Bakersfield to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
→
Equivalent salary in Bakersfield, CA
$80,000
Same salary works in both cities

Formula: salary × (100.9 ÷ 100.9) = salary × 1.0000. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Ann Arbor, MI

Median Home Price
$398,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,050
Housing Index
125.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.2×

Bakersfield, CA

Median Home Price
$358,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,750
Housing Index
90.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.0×

Ann Arbor has 27.9% lower housing costs compared to Bakersfield.

Income & Job Market

Ann Arbor, MI

Median Household Income
$83,800
Per Capita Income
$47,800
Unemployment Rate
3.3%
Population
123,851
Top Industries
EducationTechnologyHealthcareManufacturingResearch

Bakersfield, CA

Median Household Income
$68,900
Per Capita Income
$39,300
Unemployment Rate
8.4%
Population
384,145
Top Industries
AgricultureEnergyHealthcareLogisticsManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Ann Arbor, MI
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Bakersfield, CA
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

70% of income left after rent (median)

Ann Arbor vs other cities

Ann Arbor, MI
vs
Detroit, MI
Index: 100.9Index: 100.3
Ann Arbor, MI
vs
Flint, MI
Index: 100.9Index: 93
Ann Arbor, MI
vs
Grand Rapids, MI
Index: 100.9Index: 95.5
Ann Arbor, MI
vs
Abilene, TX
Index: 100.9Index: 90.4
Ann Arbor, MI
vs
Odessa, TX
Index: 100.9Index: 93.9

Bakersfield vs other cities

Bakersfield, CA
vs
Anaheim, CA
Index: 100.9Index: 113.6
Bakersfield, CA
vs
Chico, CA
Index: 100.9Index: 101.2
Bakersfield, CA
vs
Corona, CA
Index: 100.9Index: 106.4
Bakersfield, CA
vs
New Orleans, LA
Index: 100.9Index: 92.6
Bakersfield, CA
vs
Arlington, TX
Index: 100.9Index: 103.1

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.