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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,085 in Bakersfield, CA versus $3,068 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,415 in Bakersfield, CA versus $4,648 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,746 in Bakersfield, CA versus $6,229 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Bakersfield, CA is roughly 1% more expensive than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bakersfield, CA 131% above, Chicago, IL 130% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.86 $24.86

$20.17 $20.17

23.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.3 $67.3

$99.5 $99.5

-32.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.70 $12.70

$12.23 $12.23

3.84%

Cappuccino

$5.69 $5.69

$5.60 $5.60

1.61%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$3.12 $3.12

-15.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.43 $2.43

-18.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.66 $5.66

$6.93 $6.93

-18.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.12 $5.12

$8.20 $8.20

-37.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.08 $1.08

-6.48%

White Bread (500g)

$3.76 $3.76

$3.97 $3.97

-5.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.75 $5.75

$5.58 $5.58

3.05%

Eggs

$2.91 $2.91

$4.47 $4.47

-34.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.29 $12.29

$14.50 $14.50

-15.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.59 $15.59

$15.08 $15.08

3.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.66 $16.66

$19.34 $19.34

-13.86%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 $4.30

$5.37 $5.37

-19.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.76 $1.76

-1.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$4.32 $4.32

10.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.43 $5.43

$4.41 $4.41

23.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 $1.86

$2.54 $2.54

-26.77%

Onion (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.70 $2.70

11.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.49 $2.49

5.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.60 $2.60

9.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.56 $10.56

$14.80 $14.80

-28.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.35 $18.35

$15.18 $15.18

20.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.47 $2.47

-20.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 $4.53

$3.60 $3.60

25.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.54 $2.54

-6.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.7 $57.7

$76.3 $76.3

-24.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 $2.96

$3.30 $3.30

-10.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.00 $2.00

$1.38 $1.38

44.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.35 $29.35

$25.36 $25.36

15.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.09 $1.09

16.51%

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

$23.6K $23.6K

$31.6K $31.6K

-25.34%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$26.6K $26.6K

-0.78%

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

$346 $346

$186 $186

86.03%

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

$54.7 $54.7

$62.9 $62.9

-13.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.4 $70.4

$66.2 $66.2

6.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.91 $36.91

$77.6 $77.6

-52.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.22 $25.22

$13.16 $13.16

91.64%

Cinema Ticket

$15.12 $15.12

$14.74 $14.74

2.58%

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

$1,472 $1,472

$2,039 $2,039

-27.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$39.9K $39.9K

-40.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.85 $47.85

$63.9 $63.9

-25.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.04 $41.04

$51.2 $51.2

-19.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 $92.7

$95.2 $95.2

-2.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$144 $144

21.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,882 $1,882

$2,305 $2,305

-18.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,469 $1,469

$1,575 $1,575

-6.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,433 $2,433

$4,688 $4,688

-48.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,429 $2,429

$2,737 $2,737

-11.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,463 $2,463

$4,063 $4,063

-39.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,435 $2,435

$2,696 $2,696

-9.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,649 $3,649

$5,019 $5,019

-27.30%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,882 in Bakersfield, CA and $2,305 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 38% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $67.0 in Bakersfield, CA vs $99.0 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $437 vs $448 per month, with Bakersfield, CA cheaper across the board.

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

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

Chicago, IL is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 38% lower in Chicago, IL. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,882 in Bakersfield, CA versus $2,305 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Chicago, IL – a meal for two runs $99.0 versus $67.0 in Bakersfield, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,085 per month in Bakersfield, CA versus $3,068 in Chicago, IL – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Chicago, IL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Chicago, IL is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Bakersfield, CA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Chicago, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Bakersfield, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.