CostIndexUSA

Bakersfield, CA vs Redding, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostCA
Bakersfield
100.9
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
CA
Redding
100.7
overall index
$1,600/mo rent

Bakersfield and Redding have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing1.0%
Bakersfield
90.3
Redding
89.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Bakersfield
105.2
Redding
105.2
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Bakersfield
105.3
Redding
105.3
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Bakersfield
95.3
Redding
95.3
Utilities≈ Equal
Bakersfield
158.3
Redding
157.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Redding, CA
$79,800
$200 less needed in Redding

Formula: salary × (100.7 ÷ 100.9) = salary × 0.9980. 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×

Redding, CA

Median Home Price
$362,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,600
Housing Index
89.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.9×

Bakersfield has 1.0% lower housing costs compared to Redding.

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

Redding, CA

Median Household Income
$75,900
Per Capita Income
$43,300
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
91,305
Top Industries
HealthcareGovernmentRetailManufacturingEducation

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)

Redding, CA
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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.