Bakersfield, CA vs El Centro, CA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, El Centro, CA is 5.7% less expensive than Bakersfield, CA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Bakersfield works out to about $70,800 in El Centro, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 26.6% less in El Centro. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,803 a month in El Centro and $1,822 in Bakersfield, nearly the same (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $382,000 in El Centro and $360,000 in Bakersfield.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (4.7%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 26.6% lower in El Centro than in Bakersfield
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Bakersfield, CA
- El Centro, CA
All items Bakersfield, CA: 100.9 El Centro, CA: 95.2
Goods Bakersfield, CA: 105.2 El Centro, CA: 105.2
Housing (rents) Bakersfield, CA: 90.3 El Centro, CA: 66.3
Utilities Bakersfield, CA: 158.3 El Centro, CA: 157.2
Other services Bakersfield, CA: 100.3 El Centro, CA: 100.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bakersfield, CA | El Centro, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 100.9 | 95.2 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 90.3 | 66.3 |
| Utilities | 158.3 | 157.2 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 |
| Category | Bakersfield | El Centro | El Centro vs Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 100.9 | 95.2 | −5.7% |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 90.3 | 66.3 | −26.6% |
| Utilities | 158.3 | 157.2 | −0.7% |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,822 | $1,803 | −1.0% |
| Typical home value | $360,000 | $382,000 | +6.1% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Bakersfield | $75,000 | $70,800 | −5.7% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Bakersfield and El Centro has widened since 2008: 1.6 points then, 5.7 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Bakersfield, CA
- El Centro, CA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bakersfield, CA | El Centro, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.9 | 95.3 |
| 2009 | 100.3 | 96.2 |
| 2010 | 98.2 | 95.2 |
| 2011 | 100.4 | 94.8 |
| 2012 | 101.1 | 94.0 |
| 2013 | 99.7 | 94.3 |
| 2014 | 99.6 | 91.8 |
| 2015 | 97.7 | 94.5 |
| 2016 | 96.5 | 95.7 |
| 2017 | 98.5 | 95.8 |
| 2018 | 101.7 | 92.8 |
| 2019 | 101.1 | 96.4 |
| 2020 | 100.3 | 96.9 |
| 2021 | 100.9 | 95.6 |
| 2022 | 104.5 | 100.0 |
| 2023 | 102.4 | 100.2 |
| 2024 | 100.9 | 95.2 |
Goods
- Bakersfield, CA
- El Centro, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bakersfield, CA | El Centro, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.1 | 101.3 |
| 2009 | 101.4 | 99.9 |
| 2010 | 97.3 | 98.5 |
| 2011 | 99.0 | 98.6 |
| 2012 | 99.8 | 96.4 |
| 2013 | 98.2 | 95.0 |
| 2014 | 96.6 | 97.1 |
| 2015 | 94.9 | 103.7 |
| 2016 | 94.0 | 104.6 |
| 2017 | 99.8 | 102.0 |
| 2018 | 105.3 | 105.3 |
| 2019 | 104.8 | 104.8 |
| 2020 | 104.5 | 104.5 |
| 2021 | 106.9 | 106.9 |
| 2022 | 109.0 | 109.0 |
| 2023 | 104.9 | 104.9 |
| 2024 | 105.2 | 105.2 |
Housing (rents)
- Bakersfield, CA
- El Centro, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bakersfield, CA | El Centro, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.2 | 72.5 |
| 2009 | 97.1 | 79.7 |
| 2010 | 96.1 | 80.6 |
| 2011 | 94.9 | 75.4 |
| 2012 | 97.0 | 81.4 |
| 2013 | 95.8 | 78.8 |
| 2014 | 97.8 | 66.9 |
| 2015 | 92.9 | 68.5 |
| 2016 | 90.6 | 80.9 |
| 2017 | 92.1 | 70.0 |
| 2018 | 87.3 | 56.5 |
| 2019 | 89.4 | 67.8 |
| 2020 | 89.1 | 76.2 |
| 2021 | 92.4 | 67.0 |
| 2022 | 93.1 | 74.0 |
| 2023 | 88.0 | 77.7 |
| 2024 | 90.3 | 66.3 |
Utilities
- Bakersfield, CA
- El Centro, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bakersfield, CA | El Centro, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.6 | 87.9 |
| 2009 | 100.8 | 94.4 |
| 2010 | 111.8 | 104.6 |
| 2011 | 113.5 | 110.2 |
| 2012 | 116.9 | 106.4 |
| 2013 | 115.9 | 106.0 |
| 2014 | 121.0 | 105.6 |
| 2015 | 122.9 | 107.7 |
| 2016 | 118.6 | 120.2 |
| 2017 | 114.7 | 117.1 |
| 2018 | 124.5 | 121.4 |
| 2019 | 130.7 | 128.1 |
| 2020 | 134.9 | 131.9 |
| 2021 | 145.2 | 141.0 |
| 2022 | 149.4 | 146.0 |
| 2023 | 148.0 | 138.6 |
| 2024 | 158.3 | 157.2 |
Other services
- Bakersfield, CA
- El Centro, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bakersfield, CA | El Centro, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.7 | 102.8 |
| 2009 | 100.7 | 100.7 |
| 2010 | 98.8 | 98.3 |
| 2011 | 102.5 | 99.0 |
| 2012 | 102.4 | 96.3 |
| 2013 | 101.1 | 99.0 |
| 2014 | 101.0 | 98.7 |
| 2015 | 99.8 | 99.1 |
| 2016 | 98.9 | 95.3 |
| 2017 | 99.2 | 100.2 |
| 2018 | 103.7 | 103.7 |
| 2019 | 101.8 | 101.8 |
| 2020 | 100.4 | 100.4 |
| 2021 | 98.6 | 98.6 |
| 2022 | 103.9 | 103.9 |
| 2023 | 104.2 | 104.2 |
| 2024 | 100.3 | 100.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,803 in El Centro vs $1,822 in Bakersfield
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Bakersfield, CA
- El Centro, CA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Bakersfield, CA | El Centro, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $975 | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $982 | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $981 | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $982 | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $993 | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $997 | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,006 | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,006 | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,021 | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,035 | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,043 | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,044 | – | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,060 | – | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,075 | – | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,085 | – | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,095 | – | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,116 | – | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,136 | – | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,149 | – | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,158 | – | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,161 | – | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,187 | – | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,246 | – | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,265 | – | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,296 | – | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,346 | – | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,407 | – | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,467 | – | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,518 | – | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,581 | – | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,594 | – | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,586 | – | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,600 | – | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,634 | $1,419 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,657 | $1,485 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,660 | $1,482 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,673 | $1,572 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,706 | $1,532 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,707 | $1,538 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,712 | $1,640 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,745 | $1,652 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,761 | $1,659 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,769 | $1,697 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,758 | $1,694 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,780 | $1,743 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,796 | $1,808 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,822 | $1,803 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $382,000 in El Centro vs $360,000 in Bakersfield
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Bakersfield, CA
- El Centro, CA
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Bakersfield, CA | El Centro, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $180K | $175K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $183K | $181K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $185K | $183K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $190K | $190K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $193K | $194K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $194K | $197K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $195K | $198K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $198K | $201K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $201K | $204K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $203K | $210K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $205K | $212K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $209K | $216K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $214K | $218K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $217K | $222K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $220K | $223K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $222K | $223K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $226K | $229K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $229K | $237K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $231K | $240K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $234K | $247K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $238K | $248K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $241K | $251K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $247K | $258K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $258K | $263K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $269K | $270K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $283K | $279K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $295K | $290K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $305K | $298K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $320K | $305K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $335K | $312K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $337K | $312K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $332K | $308K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $328K | $313K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $333K | $319K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $341K | $324K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $344K | $328K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $349K | $334K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $355K | $340K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $358K | $343K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $361K | $349K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $363K | $354K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $362K | $357K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $360K | $365K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $360K | $373K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $362K | $379K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $361K | $380K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $360K | $382K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.