Bakersfield, CA vs Yuba City, CA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Yuba City, CA is 3.3% more expensive than Bakersfield, CA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Bakersfield works out to about $77,500 in Yuba City, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 19.9% more in Yuba City. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $2,033 a month in Yuba City and $1,822 in Bakersfield, $2,532 a year more in Yuba City (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $425,000 in Yuba City and $360,000 in Bakersfield.
- The gap has widened since 2019, when Yuba City was 1.5% more expensive than Bakersfield.
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: 19.9% higher in Yuba City than in Bakersfield
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Bakersfield, CA
- Yuba City, CA
All items Bakersfield, CA: 100.9 Yuba City, CA: 104.2
Goods Bakersfield, CA: 105.2 Yuba City, CA: 105.2
Housing (rents) Bakersfield, CA: 90.3 Yuba City, CA: 108.3
Utilities Bakersfield, CA: 158.3 Yuba City, CA: 160.8
Other services Bakersfield, CA: 100.3 Yuba City, CA: 100.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bakersfield, CA | Yuba City, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 100.9 | 104.2 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 90.3 | 108.3 |
| Utilities | 158.3 | 160.8 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 |
| Category | Bakersfield | Yuba City | Yuba City vs Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 100.9 | 104.2 | +3.3% |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 90.3 | 108.3 | +19.9% |
| Utilities | 158.3 | 160.8 | +1.6% |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,822 | $2,033 | +11.6% |
| Typical home value | $360,000 | $425,000 | +18.0% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Bakersfield | $75,000 | $77,500 | +3.3% |
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 Yuba City has widened since 2008: 0.9 points then, 3.3 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Bakersfield, CA
- Yuba City, 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 | Yuba City, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.9 | 97.8 |
| 2009 | 100.3 | 100.9 |
| 2010 | 98.2 | 98.1 |
| 2011 | 100.4 | 102.2 |
| 2012 | 101.1 | 102.2 |
| 2013 | 99.7 | 100.5 |
| 2014 | 99.6 | 98.7 |
| 2015 | 97.7 | 97.8 |
| 2016 | 96.5 | 97.6 |
| 2017 | 98.5 | 98.1 |
| 2018 | 101.7 | 103.5 |
| 2019 | 101.1 | 102.7 |
| 2020 | 100.3 | 102.0 |
| 2021 | 100.9 | 101.5 |
| 2022 | 104.5 | 102.7 |
| 2023 | 102.4 | 103.8 |
| 2024 | 100.9 | 104.2 |
Goods
- Bakersfield, CA
- Yuba City, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bakersfield, CA | Yuba City, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.1 | 95.1 |
| 2009 | 101.4 | 101.4 |
| 2010 | 97.3 | 97.3 |
| 2011 | 99.0 | 99.0 |
| 2012 | 99.8 | 99.8 |
| 2013 | 98.2 | 98.2 |
| 2014 | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| 2015 | 94.9 | 94.9 |
| 2016 | 94.0 | 94.0 |
| 2017 | 99.8 | 99.8 |
| 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
- Yuba City, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bakersfield, CA | Yuba City, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.2 | 102.6 |
| 2009 | 97.1 | 100.1 |
| 2010 | 96.1 | 95.7 |
| 2011 | 94.9 | 104.7 |
| 2012 | 97.0 | 103.8 |
| 2013 | 95.8 | 100.2 |
| 2014 | 97.8 | 92.4 |
| 2015 | 92.9 | 93.4 |
| 2016 | 90.6 | 96.9 |
| 2017 | 92.1 | 89.0 |
| 2018 | 87.3 | 97.2 |
| 2019 | 89.4 | 97.5 |
| 2020 | 89.1 | 97.5 |
| 2021 | 92.4 | 95.3 |
| 2022 | 93.1 | 82.6 |
| 2023 | 88.0 | 94.9 |
| 2024 | 90.3 | 108.3 |
Utilities
- Bakersfield, CA
- Yuba City, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bakersfield, CA | Yuba City, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.6 | 103.3 |
| 2009 | 100.8 | 102.3 |
| 2010 | 111.8 | 112.7 |
| 2011 | 113.5 | 114.6 |
| 2012 | 116.9 | 116.9 |
| 2013 | 115.9 | 117.6 |
| 2014 | 121.0 | 122.1 |
| 2015 | 122.9 | 123.5 |
| 2016 | 118.6 | 119.2 |
| 2017 | 114.7 | 115.4 |
| 2018 | 124.5 | 125.3 |
| 2019 | 130.7 | 131.9 |
| 2020 | 134.9 | 137.2 |
| 2021 | 145.2 | 145.3 |
| 2022 | 149.4 | 149.4 |
| 2023 | 148.0 | 149.3 |
| 2024 | 158.3 | 160.8 |
Other services
- Bakersfield, CA
- Yuba City, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bakersfield, CA | Yuba City, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.7 | 97.7 |
| 2009 | 100.7 | 100.7 |
| 2010 | 98.8 | 98.8 |
| 2011 | 102.5 | 102.5 |
| 2012 | 102.4 | 102.4 |
| 2013 | 101.1 | 101.1 |
| 2014 | 101.0 | 101.0 |
| 2015 | 99.8 | 99.8 |
| 2016 | 98.9 | 98.9 |
| 2017 | 99.2 | 99.2 |
| 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: $2,033 in Yuba City vs $1,822 in Bakersfield
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Bakersfield, CA
- Yuba City, 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 | Yuba City, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $975 | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $982 | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $981 | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $982 | $1,059 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $993 | $1,071 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $997 | $1,091 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,006 | $1,094 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,006 | $1,136 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,021 | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,035 | $1,175 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,043 | $1,192 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,044 | $1,219 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,060 | $1,241 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,075 | $1,264 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,085 | $1,267 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,095 | $1,295 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,116 | $1,332 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,136 | $1,376 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,149 | $1,388 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,158 | $1,409 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,161 | $1,429 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,187 | $1,440 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,246 | $1,482 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,265 | $1,568 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,296 | $1,608 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,346 | $1,714 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,407 | $1,743 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,467 | $1,772 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,518 | $1,813 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,581 | $1,858 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,594 | $1,855 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,586 | $1,846 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,600 | $1,853 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,634 | $1,876 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,657 | $1,906 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,660 | $1,916 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,673 | $1,945 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,706 | $1,956 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,707 | $1,992 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,712 | $1,985 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,745 | $2,035 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,761 | $1,996 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,769 | $2,045 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,758 | $2,041 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,780 | $2,062 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,796 | $2,049 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,822 | $2,033 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $425,000 in Yuba City vs $360,000 in Bakersfield
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Bakersfield, CA
- Yuba City, 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 | Yuba City, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $180K | $207K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $183K | $212K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $185K | $216K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $190K | $221K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $193K | $226K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $194K | $231K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $195K | $236K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $198K | $243K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $201K | $252K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $203K | $258K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $205K | $265K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $209K | $271K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $214K | $279K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $217K | $285K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $220K | $288K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $222K | $289K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $226K | $294K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $229K | $299K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $231K | $304K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $234K | $310K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $238K | $316K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $241K | $319K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $247K | $326K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $258K | $345K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $269K | $365K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $283K | $384K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $295K | $397K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $305K | $406K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $320K | $426K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $335K | $445K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $337K | $439K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $332K | $424K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $328K | $413K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $333K | $416K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $341K | $422K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $344K | $423K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $349K | $426K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $355K | $433K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $358K | $434K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $361K | $434K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $363K | $432K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $362K | $428K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $360K | $426K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $360K | $427K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $362K | $427K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $361K | $425K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $360K | $425K | $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.