Bakersfield vs St. Louis Cost of Living
St. Louis is approximately 8.1% cheaper than Bakersfield. See salary equivalence, taxes, and side-by-side breakdown.
Bakersfield, CA
St. Louis, MO
| Salary in Bakersfield | Equivalent in St. Louis | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $46,000 | -$4,000 (-8.0%) |
| $75,000 | $68,900 | -$6,100 (-8.1%) |
| $100,000 | $91,900 | -$8,100 (-8.1%) |
| $150,000 | $137,900 | -$12,100 (-8.1%) |
| $200,000 | $183,800 | -$16,200 (-8.1%) |
Bakersfield vs St. Louis: which is more affordable?
On an overall cost-of-living basis, St. Louis is 8.1% cheaper than Bakersfield. That means if you currently spend $5,000/month in Bakersfield, you'd spend approximately $4,596 for the same lifestyle in St. Louis. Or: $100,000 in Bakersfield ≈ $91,919 in St. Louis for equivalent purchasing power.
These multipliers are based on Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities and reflect average housing, food, transportation, and services costs. Real personal costs vary by neighborhood (urban core vs suburb), housing choice (rent vs own, apartment vs house), and lifestyle (frequency of dining out, car-dependent vs transit, etc.).
Tax differences
Both California and Missouri levy state income taxes (typical effective rate ~5% at middle incomes). Tax burden is roughly comparable.
City local taxes: Bakersfield no local tax vs St. Louis 1.00%.
What costs more (and less) in St. Louis
Cost of living differences are driven mostly by housing — typically the biggest expense category. St. Louis's housing index (0.54×) compared to Bakersfield's (0.68×) is the dominant factor.
Food, groceries, and transportation typically vary 5–15% between metros — much less than housing. For a couple moving from Bakersfield to St. Louis, expect roughly:
- Rent / mortgage: -21% lower
- Groceries: -5% lower
- Transportation: -4% lower
- Healthcare, services: roughly proportional to overall index
Things this calculator can't fully capture
- Quality-of-life: weather, walkability, school quality, crime rates, commute times — not in the index.
- Career opportunities: a metro with higher cost-of-living often pays correspondingly higher salaries for the same role. See our salary calculator by job and city.
- Family situation: childcare, school district, eldercare costs vary independently of overall index.
- Lifestyle preferences: a frugal renter pays less than the index suggests; a property owner in a hot market might pay much more.
Related tools
Bakersfield Paycheck Calculator — exact take-home in Bakersfield. St. Louis Paycheck Calculator — exact take-home in St. Louis. Salary Calculator — hourly ↔ annual conversion. Inflation Calculator — purchasing power over time. Mortgage Calculator — what you can afford.