Bakersfield vs New Orleans: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Bakersfield, CA and New Orleans, LA, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | New Orleans, LA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 404,321 | 380,408 |
| Median household income | $73,827 | $51,116 |
| Median home value | $320,600 | $281,500 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,283 | $1,162 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Bakersfield, CA and New Orleans, LA comes down to what you value most. New Orleans has the lower median home value, and New Orleans has the lower median rent.
Bakersfield has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or New Orleans?
- By median home value, New Orleans is the cheaper of the two ($281,500 vs $320,600). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Bakersfield or New Orleans?
- Median household income is $73,827 in Bakersfield versus $51,116 in New Orleans, per the US Census Bureau.