CostIndexUSA

Bakersfield, CA vs Fort Collins, CO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostCA
Bakersfield
100.9
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
CO
Fort Collins
101.1
overall index
$1,875/mo rent

Bakersfield and Fort Collins have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+33.6%
Bakersfield
90.3
Fort Collins
120.6
🛒 Groceries−8.7%
Bakersfield
105.2
Fort Collins
96.1
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Bakersfield
105.3
Fort Collins
104.8
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Bakersfield
95.3
Fort Collins
94.8
⚡ Utilities−48.1%
Bakersfield
158.3
Fort Collins
82.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Fort Collins, CO
$80,200
$200 more needed in Fort Collins

Formula: salary × (101.1 ÷ 100.9) = salary × 1.0020. 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×

Fort Collins, CO

Median Home Price
$540,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
120.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.0×

Fort Collins has 33.6% higher housing costs compared to Bakersfield.

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

Fort Collins, CO

Median Household Income
$88,200
Per Capita Income
$50,300
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
164,672
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareAgricultureManufacturing

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)

Fort Collins, CO
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

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

Fort Collins vs other cities

Fort Collins, CO
vs
Aurora, CO
Index: 101.1Index: 105.8
Fort Collins, CO
vs
Boulder, CO
Index: 101.1Index: 105.2
Fort Collins, CO
vs
Colorado Springs, CO
Index: 101.1Index: 100.7
Fort Collins, CO
vs
Salinas, CA
Index: 101.1Index: 109
Fort Collins, CO
vs
Clarksville, TN
Index: 101.1Index: 90.9

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.