Cost of Living Comparison Between Amsterdam and Bakersfield, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Amsterdam and Bakersfield, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,543 per month in Amsterdam vs $3,089 in Bakersfield, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,055 per month in Amsterdam vs $4,355 in Bakersfield, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,567 per month in Amsterdam vs $5,622 in Bakersfield, CA, rent included.

Amsterdam costs about 15% more than Bakersfield, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Amsterdam and Bakersfield, CA sit above the global median – Amsterdam by 164%, Bakersfield, CA by 131%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.95 €19.75

$24.60 $24.60

-6.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$109 €93.9

$67.6 $67.6

61.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.93 €12.84

$12.53 $12.53

19.15%

Cappuccino

$4.98 €4.29

$5.64 $5.64

-11.70%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 €2.91

$2.55 $2.55

32.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 €2.83

$2.04 $2.04

61.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.91 €5.95

$5.60 $5.60

23.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.88 €5.92

$4.97 $4.97

38.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 €1.26

$1.02 $1.02

44.12%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 €2.11

$3.70 $3.70

-33.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.59 €2.23

$5.87 $5.87

-55.88%

Eggs

$5.30 €4.56

$2.96 $2.96

79.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 €12.71

$12.59 $12.59

17.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.48 €12.45

$16.04 $16.04

-9.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.57 €14.25

$16.61 $16.61

-0.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.82 €2.43

$4.22 $4.22

-33.18%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 €2.20

$1.69 $1.69

50.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 €1.90

$4.67 $4.67

-52.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.88 €4.19

$5.23 $5.23

-6.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 €1.75

$1.80 $1.80

13.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.09 €1.80

$3.02 $3.02

-30.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 €1.17

$2.62 $2.62

-48.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 €1.00

$2.89 $2.89

-59.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.36 €12.35

$10.34 $10.34

38.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.52 €6.47

$17.91 $17.91

-58.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 €1.51

$1.88 $1.88

-6.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 €2.65

$4.57 $4.57

-32.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.90 €3.36

$2.41 $2.41

61.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$118 €101

$58.1 $58.1

103.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.77 €4.11

$3.04 $3.04

56.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.02 €2.59

$2.00 $2.00

51.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$65.2 €56.0

$29.54 $29.54

120.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.29 €1.97

$1.22 $1.22

87.70%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$43.5K €37.4K

$24.4K $24.4K

78.47%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$38.7K €33.3K

$26.3K $26.3K

46.97%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$304 €261

$344 $344

-11.66%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$21.92 €18.85

$53.5 $53.5

-59.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.1 €44.83

$72.6 $72.6

-28.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.6 €54.7

$36.80 $36.80

72.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.68 €34.13

$24.95 $24.95

59.04%

Cinema Ticket

$17.14 €14.74

$14.94 $14.94

14.73%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,862 €2,462

$1,529 $1,529

87.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.0K €18.1K

$23.6K $23.6K

-10.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$102 €87.5

$47.01 $47.01

116.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.40 €42.49

$41.10 $41.10

20.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 €105

$93.4 $93.4

30.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$137 €118

$181 $181

-24.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,380 €2,047

$1,882 $1,882

26.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,959 €1,685

$1,464 $1,464

33.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,236 €3,644

$2,484 $2,484

70.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,031 €2,608

$2,466 $2,466

22.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$11.1K €9,569

$2,526 $2,526

340.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,621 €6,556

$2,436 $2,436

212.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,906 €4,220

$3,638 $3,638

34.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.02

6.56

-38.72%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Amsterdam: June 1, 2026

Last update for Bakersfield, CA: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,380 in Amsterdam versus $1,882 in Bakersfield, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 35% higher in Amsterdam, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $109 in Amsterdam versus $68.0 in Bakersfield, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $359 in Amsterdam vs $437 in Bakersfield, CA – so Amsterdam wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Amsterdam vs Bakersfield, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Amsterdam is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,314 per month in Amsterdam and $4,634 in Bakersfield, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bakersfield, CA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 103% less in Bakersfield, CA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,862 per month in Amsterdam and $1,529 in Bakersfield, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,543 in Amsterdam and $3,089 in Bakersfield, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Bakersfield, CA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bakersfield, CA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Amsterdam makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.