Rents are 6% below what Bakersfield's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,901 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in Bakersfield usually run 0.5% below trend in January and 0.4% above it in July, about $17 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Bakersfield is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Bakersfield changed +3.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Bakersfield rose 49.7% while median household income rose 27.6% ($63,139 to $80,540). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Bakersfield is 55.6% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 12 months in a row, and rose in 12 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($80,540) is $2,014 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,629); a 3-bedroom is $2,284.
The priciest of 10 ZIP codes in Bakersfield, 93312 ($2,452/mo), costs 1.7 times the cheapest, 93301 ($1,413/mo).
Taft, 26 miles away, rents for 32% less ($1,288/mo), about $7,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Bakersfield. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Bakersfield, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 23.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Bakersfield, CA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Bakersfield, CA paid around $1,368 a month. That figure now sits near $1,901, up 39.0% from the 2021 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $69,014 in 2021 to $80,540 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Bakersfield, CA adding about 13,230 residents over the five-year window, up 3.3% on net. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Bakersfield, CA market of 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Bakersfield on your salary?
At $1,901/mo, how Bakersfield rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Bakersfield rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Bakersfield. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Bakersfield
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Bakersfield is $1,901/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,249/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,629/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,257/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,284/mo.
At 28% of local median household income ($80,540/yr), Bakersfield ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Bakersfield rent compare to other cities in California?
At $1,901/mo, rent takes ~28% of Bakersfield's median household income ($80,540/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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