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Rent Tracker
The average asking rent in Bakersfield, CA is $1,762/month as of 2026-03. That is +2.4% compared to a year ago.
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) · zillow.com/research
Current Avg Rent
$1,762/mo
as of 2026-03
Year-over-Year Change
+2.4%
Monthly ZORI index values for Bakersfield, CA.
| Month | Avg Asking Rent | Change from Prior Month |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-03 | $1,762 | +0.74% |
| 2026-02 | $1,749 | +0.75% |
| 2026-01 | $1,736 | +0.00% |
| 2025-12 | $1,736 | -0.52% |
| 2025-11 | $1,745 | -0.06% |
| 2025-10 | $1,746 | +0.00% |
| 2025-09 | $1,746 | +0.00% |
| 2025-08 | $1,746 | -0.11% |
| 2025-07 | $1,748 | +0.29% |
| 2025-06 | $1,743 | +0.75% |
| 2025-05 | $1,730 | +0.35% |
| 2025-04 | $1,724 | +0.23% |
| 2025-03 | $1,720 | +0.88% |
| 2025-02 | $1,705 | +0.59% |
| 2025-01 | $1,695 | +0.18% |
| 2024-12 | $1,692 | -0.41% |
| 2024-11 | $1,699 | +0.24% |
| 2024-10 | $1,695 | +0.41% |
| 2024-09 | $1,688 | +0.12% |
| 2024-08 | $1,686 | +0.00% |
| 2024-07 | $1,686 | +0.00% |
| 2024-06 | $1,686 | +0.84% |
| 2024-05 | $1,672 | +0.36% |
| 2024-04 | $1,666 | — |
Shelter is the single largest component of the official CPI, accounting for roughly one-third of the index. But the BLS shelter index tends to lag real-market rent changes by 12–18 months because it measures rents paid by all tenants — including long-term renters locked into old leases. ZORI measures asking rents for new leases, making it a timelier signal of where CPI shelter inflation is headed.
When ZORI is rising sharply in your city, it is a leading indicator that official shelter inflation — and therefore overall CPI — will remain elevated in coming months.
Data: Zillow Research ZORI · Updated monthly · Price Inflation Report