Cost of Living Comparison Between Bakersfield, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Bakersfield, CA and Chicago, IL

😐 Solo nomad: Bakersfield, CA is 3.9% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 1.1% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Bakersfield, CA is 15.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 7.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.72 $24.72

$20.82 $20.82

18.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.2 $66.2

$100 $100

-34.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.69 $12.69

$11.97 $11.97

6.02%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$5.56 $5.56

4.14%

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

$2.69 $2.69

$3.11 $3.11

-13.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.42 $2.42

-19.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.66 $5.66

$6.86 $6.86

-17.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.96 $4.96

$8.45 $8.45

-41.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.04 $1.04

0.96%

White Bread (500g)

$3.83 $3.83

$4.15 $4.15

-7.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.78 $5.78

$5.52 $5.52

4.71%

Eggs

$2.9 $2.9

$4.65 $4.65

-37.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.69 $12.69

$14.33 $14.33

-11.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.86 $15.86

$14.88 $14.88

6.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.63 $16.63

$19.34 $19.34

-14.01%

Apples (1kg)

$4.21 $4.21

$5.17 $5.17

-18.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.71 $1.71

-1.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$4.41 $4.41

2.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.2 $5.2

$4.51 $4.51

15.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 $1.83

$2.53 $2.53

-27.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.74 $2.74

6.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.43 $2.43

9.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.7 $2.7

3.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.65 $10.65

$15.19 $15.19

-29.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.84 $14.84

$16.42 $16.42

-9.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 $1.89

$2.35 $2.35

-19.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.54 $4.54

$3.7 $3.7

22.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.53 $2.53

-5.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.9 $55.9

$74.1 $74.1

-24.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.34 $3.34

-11.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.42 $1.42

41.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.04 $29.04

$25.42 $25.42

14.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.08 $1.08

16.67%

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

$23.5K $23.5K

$32.4K $32.4K

-27.45%

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

$27.2K $27.2K

$26.2K $26.2K

3.78%

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

$341 $341

$188 $188

81.44%

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

$53.4 $53.4

$63.7 $63.7

-16.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.4 $71.4

$65.2 $65.2

9.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.14 $36.14

$76.7 $76.7

-52.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.97 $24.97

$13.03 $13.03

91.63%

Cinema Ticket

$14.88 $14.88

$14.93 $14.93

-0.33%

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

$1,479 $1,479

$2,063 $2,063

-28.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$39.2K $39.2K

-39.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.24 $47.24

$64.3 $64.3

-26.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.38 $42.38

$52.4 $52.4

-19.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.8 $91.8

$95.2 $95.2

-3.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$180 $180

$145 $145

24.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,864 $1,864

$2,378 $2,378

-21.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,474 $1,474

$1,584 $1,584

-6.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,407 $2,407

$4,763 $4,763

-49.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,429 $2,429

$2,815 $2,815

-13.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,506 $2,506

$3,588 $3,588

-30.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,519 $2,519

$2,490 $2,490

1.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,867 $3,867

$5,275 $5,275

-26.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

6.6

-0.61%

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

Last update for Bakersfield, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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