True Cost of Renting in Bakersfield

Bakersfield is the southern Central Valley's largest city and California's oil production capital — Kern County produces more oil than any other county in the contiguous US. The oil and agriculture industries create a working-class economy with pockets of high-income earners (engineers, managers) renting alongside the broader workforce. PG&E's rates and Bakersfield's extreme summer heat (110°F+ days occur regularly) create the highest AC utility costs in California outside of Death Valley.

Neighborhoods & Average Rents

Riverlakes Ranch

1 Bed:
$1,200/mo
2 Bed:
$1,700/mo

Upscale planned community in northwest Bakersfield near the Kern River Parkway; newer apartment complexes with resort amenities. PG&E electric — budget $200–300/month for summer AC in a 1BR. Most complexes include covered parking and pools.

Downtown Bakersfield

Studio:
$700/mo
1 Bed:
$1,000/mo
2 Bed:
$1,400/mo

Urban core near the Fox Theater and CSUB satellite campus; older apartment buildings with the city's lowest rents. Golden Empire Transit bus system hub. PG&E electric. Summer cooling costs are severe in older buildings without updated HVAC.

East Bakersfield / Oleander

1 Bed:
$1,100/mo
2 Bed:
$1,500/mo

Established residential area east of Downtown; mix of older and newer apartment complexes serving healthcare workers (Kern Medical) and government employees. CA-58 access east to Mojave and I-40. PG&E electric.

Utility Providers

Electric
PG&E (Pacific Gas & Electric)
Water
City of Bakersfield Public Works
Internet
Spectrum, AT&T, T-Mobile Home Internet

Commute & Transportation

Bakersfield sits at the junction of CA-99 (Central Valley north-south highway) and CA-58 (east to Barstow and I-40). I-5 runs parallel to CA-99 30 miles west through the Tehachapi Mountains. Los Angeles is 110 miles south via CA-99 and I-5 (Tejon Pass) — a 2-hour drive off-peak. Sacramento is 250 miles north via CA-99. Kern Transit provides limited regional bus service. Amtrak San Joaquin stops in Bakersfield connecting to Oakland and Sacramento. Major employers include Chevron, Aera Energy, Kern County government, and Mercy Hospital.

Rental Market Overview

Bakersfield is one of California's most affordable cities for renters, with rents 60–70% below the Bay Area. The key all-in cost consideration is PG&E electric combined with extreme summer heat — budget $200–350/month for AC in summer in a typical 1BR. New buildings with modern insulation reduce this to $100–150/month. AB 1482 applies to older buildings. No city-level rent control. The oil industry's cyclical nature creates boom-and-bust rental demand patterns — when oil prices are high, demand (and rents) rise; during downturns, vacancy increases. Budget $12–16/month for renters insurance.

Data last updated: 2026-04

Compare Apartments in Bakersfield

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Renting in Bakersfield: Common Questions

What is the average rent in Bakersfield?
One-bedroom apartments in Bakersfield range from $1,000/month in Downtown Bakersfield to $1,200/month in Riverlakes Ranch. Two-bedroom units range from $1,400 to $1,700/month. These are base rents — add fees, utilities, and amenity costs to get the true all-in monthly cost.
What utilities do I need to set up in Bakersfield?
In Bakersfield, electricity is provided by PG&E (Pacific Gas & Electric), water by City of Bakersfield Public Works, and common internet providers include Spectrum, AT&T, T-Mobile Home Internet. Ask the leasing office for the specific unit's average monthly bill rather than a city-wide figure — utility costs vary more by building age and insulation than by location within Bakersfield.
What neighborhoods are affordable in Bakersfield?
Downtown Bakersfield is the most affordable of the 3 Bakersfield neighborhoods covered here, at $1,000/month for a one-bedroom — $200 less than Riverlakes Ranch, roughly a 17% gap. That swing is often bigger than any fee or amenity difference between two buildings in the same neighborhood, which is why comparing across neighborhoods matters as much as comparing within one.
Is Bakersfield expensive to rent in?
Across the 3 neighborhoods covered here, the average one-bedroom in Bakersfield runs about $1,100/month before fees, utilities, and amenities are added — and those add-ons are exactly what a bare average hides. Bakersfield is one of California's most affordable cities for renters, with rents 60–70% below the Bay Area. Run the specific units you are considering through RentCompare to see the true all-in monthly cost rather than relying on an area average.

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