CostIndexUSA

Bakersfield, CA vs Flint, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Bakersfield
100.9
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
More AffordableMI
Flint
93
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Flint is moderately cheaper than Bakersfield — 7.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bakersfield, you would need $73,700 in Flint. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing18.1%
Bakersfield
90.3
Flint
74
🛒 Groceries10.9%
Bakersfield
105.2
Flint
93.7
🚗 Transportation0.8%
Bakersfield
105.3
Flint
104.5
🏥 Healthcare0.7%
Bakersfield
95.3
Flint
94.6
Utilities38.7%
Bakersfield
158.3
Flint
97.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Flint, MI
$73,700
$6,300 less needed in Flint

Formula: salary × (93 ÷ 100.9) = salary × 0.9217. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bakersfield, CA

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

Flint, MI

Median Home Price
$183,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,075
Housing Index
74
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.2×

Bakersfield has 18.1% lower housing costs compared to Flint.

Income & Job Market

Bakersfield, CA

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

Flint, MI

Median Household Income
$60,000
Per Capita Income
$34,200
Unemployment Rate
6.9%
Population
81,252
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingEducationGovernmentRetail

Affordability at a Glance

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

Bakersfield, CA
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

70% of income left after rent (median)

Flint, MI
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

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.