Studio Apartment Rent in Bakersfield, CA
Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Bakersfield, California as of August 2026. That's +33% lower than the citywide median of $1,875 and +3% below the national studio median of $1,290.
Income needed for a studio in Bakersfield
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a studio at the current median rent.
Rent by apartment size in Bakersfield
Compare Bakersfield's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a studio in California
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florin | $738 |
| 2 | Ridgecrest | $864 |
| 3 | Taft | $870 |
| 4 | Lakeport | $890 |
| 5 | El Centro | $910 |
| 6 | Barstow | $915 |
| 7 | Red Bluff | $930 |
| 8 | California City | $940 |
| 9 | Clearlake | $950 |
| 10 | Paradise | $970 |
| 11 | Eureka | $980 |
| 12 | Oroville | $985 |
| 13 | Fortuna | $990 |
| 14 | Florence-Graham | $1,029 |
| 15 | Porterville | $1,050 |
Most expensive cities for a studio in California
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Cruz | $3,520 |
| 2 | Scotts Valley | $3,420 |
| 3 | Aptos | $3,420 |
| 4 | Cupertino | $3,410 |
| 5 | Coronado | $3,190 |
| 6 | Ladera Ranch | $3,140 |
| 7 | Los Altos | $3,130 |
| 8 | Foster City | $3,130 |
| 9 | Newport Beach | $3,102 |
| 10 | Capitola | $3,100 |
| 11 | Sunnyvale | $3,010 |
| 12 | Santa Barbara | $3,000 |
| 13 | Irvine | $3,000 |
| 14 | Solana Beach | $2,970 |
| 15 | Saratoga | $2,910 |
Nearby cities — studio rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 5 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than Bakersfield.
| City | Distance | Studio rent | vs Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taft, CA | 30.9 mi | $870 | $-379 (-30%) |
| Tehachapi, CA | 39.8 mi | $1,100 | $-149 (-12%) |
| Porterville, CA | 45.1 mi | $1,050 | $-199 (-16%) |
| Rosamond, CA | 57.8 mi | $1,600 | +$351 (+28%) |
| Ojai, CA | 60.3 mi | $1,650 | +$401 (+32%) |
| Tulare, CA | 61.8 mi | $1,130 | $-119 (-10%) |
| Carpinteria, CA | 71.6 mi | $2,720 | +$1,471 (+118%) |
| Stevenson Ranch, CA | 71.7 mi | $2,540 | +$1,291 (+103%) |
| Visalia, CA | 72.1 mi | $1,183 | $-66 (-5%) |
| Santa Clarita, CA | 73.4 mi | $2,332 | +$1,083 (+87%) |
| Moorpark, CA | 73.5 mi | $2,110 | +$861 (+69%) |
| Montecito, CA | 74.9 mi | $3,570 | +$2,321 (+186%) |
Studio rent in Bakersfield — common questions
How much is a studio apartment in Bakersfield?
As of August 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Bakersfield, California is $1,249 per month. This is +33% below the citywide median of $1,875.
What income do you need to afford a studio in Bakersfield?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $49,960 ($4,163/month gross), which works out to roughly $24.02/hour at a full-time job.
Is Bakersfield expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?
Bakersfield's studio median of $1,249 is +3% below the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 47th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Bakersfield rank for studio rent in California?
Among the 378 cities in California with studio data, Bakersfield ranks #36 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper studio options near Bakersfield?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include Taft ($870), Tehachapi ($1,100), Porterville ($1,050).