Cost of Living Comparison Between Bakersfield, CA and Palm Springs, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Bakersfield, CA and Palm Springs, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,149 in Bakersfield, CA versus $2,943 in Palm Springs, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,329 in Bakersfield, CA versus $4,726 in Palm Springs, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,509 in Bakersfield, CA versus $6,509 in Palm Springs, CA.

Living in Bakersfield, CA is roughly 7% more expensive than in Palm Springs, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bakersfield, CA 128% above, Palm Springs, CA 113% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.27 $19.27

$30.01 $30.01

-35.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.6 $65.6

$74.4 $74.4

-11.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$9.81 $9.81

40.37%

Cappuccino

$5.76 $5.76

$5.40 $5.40

6.67%

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

$2.58 $2.58

$2.81 $2.81

-8.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.56 $1.56

26.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.10 $6.10

$5.10 $5.10

19.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.87 $5.87

$5.59 $5.59

5.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.28 $1.28

-10.94%

White Bread (500g)

$4.04 $4.04

$4.01 $4.01

0.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$2.92 $2.92

75.00%

Eggs

$3.30 $3.30

$5.77 $5.77

-42.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.01 $13.01

$13.82 $13.82

-5.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.91 $12.91

$13.83 $13.83

-6.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.60 $15.60

$12.50 $12.50

24.80%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$4.99 $4.99

-17.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.26 $2.26

-12.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$4.37 $4.37

-11.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$4.87 $4.87

-19.51%

Potato (1kg)

$2.19 $2.19

$4.52 $4.52

-51.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.32 $2.32

$4.32 $4.32

-46.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.16 $2.16

-6.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.22 $2.22

7.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.15 $10.15

$11.74 $11.74

-13.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.64 $17.64

$13.27 $13.27

32.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 $1.87

$1.67 $1.67

11.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.97 $4.97

$2.63 $2.63

88.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.77 $1.77

-1.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.5 $56.5

$34.57 $34.57

63.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 $2.96

$3.48 $3.48

-14.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.81 $1.81

12.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.75 $23.75

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.27 $1.27

13.39%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$32.9K $32.9K

10.65%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$26.1K $26.1K

2.86%

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

$398 $398

$245 $245

62.19%

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

$58.7 $58.7

$79.9 $79.9

-26.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.9 $72.9

$66.9 $66.9

8.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.22 $39.22

$32.27 $32.27

21.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.46 $25.46

$51.0 $51.0

-50.07%

Cinema Ticket

$15.21 $15.21

$12.14 $12.14

25.29%

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

$1,523 $1,523

$547 $547

178.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,361 $8,361

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.6 $61.6

$31.21 $31.21

97.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.44 $48.44

$34.87 $34.87

38.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$72.6 $72.6

38.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 $123

$138 $138

-10.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,740 $1,740

$1,833 $1,833

-5.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,585 $1,585

$1,529 $1,529

3.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,344 $2,344

$3,612 $3,612

-35.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,462 $2,462

$3,222 $3,222

-23.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,448 $2,448

$5,114 $5,114

-52.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,523 $2,523

$3,253 $3,253

-22.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,623 $3,623

$4,521 $4,521

-19.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.36

6.12

3.92%

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

Last update for Bakersfield, CA: September 6, 2026

Last update for Palm Springs, CA: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,740 in Bakersfield, CA and $1,833 in Palm Springs, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Palm Springs, CA pays 25% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $66.0 in Bakersfield, CA vs $74.0 in Palm Springs, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $406 vs $414 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 Palm Springs, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Palm Springs, CA is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 25% lower in Palm Springs, CA. 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: $1,740 in Bakersfield, CA versus $1,833 in Palm Springs, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Palm Springs, CA – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $66.0 in Bakersfield, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,149 per month in Bakersfield, CA versus $2,943 in Palm Springs, CA – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Palm Springs, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Palm Springs, CA 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 Palm Springs, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Bakersfield, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.