Head to head
Bakersfield, CA vs Raleigh, NC
Bakersfield is cheaper — estimated essentials for a single person run about $95/mo less, and living comfortably there takes roughly $1,500 less in annual salary (taxes included).
It flips for a family. For two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child, Raleigh is the cheaper of the two — rent scales to household size using each city's own bedroom spread, and childcare varies even more sharply between cities than rent does.
| Metric | Bakersfield63 | Raleigh75 |
|---|---|---|
| Est. monthly cost (single) | $4,129 | $4,224 |
| Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare) | $10,022 | $9,872 |
| Salary for comfort | $77,000/yr | $78,500/yr |
| Typical rent | $1,483 | $1,750 |
| Median home value | $347,300 | $377,800 |
| Median household income | $77,397 | $82,424 |
| Unemployment | 6.2% | 3.1% |
| Housing score | 65 | 56 |
| Jobs score | 33 | 88 |
| Safety score | 54 | 59 |
| Climate score | 90 | 100 |
| Amenities score | 47 | 62 |
| Population | 408.4K | 470.8K |
| Summer high / winter low | 97° / 39° | 90° / 31° |
Fit scores use the reference profile (single, $6,700/mo gross, default weights). Green marks the better value per row.
Bakersfield, CA
Raleigh, NC