Cost of Living Comparison Between Bakersfield, CA and Reno, NV Cost of Living Comparison Between Bakersfield, CA and Reno, NV

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,090 in Bakersfield, CA versus $2,792 in Reno, NV.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,429 in Bakersfield, CA versus $4,080 in Reno, NV.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,769 in Bakersfield, CA versus $5,368 in Reno, NV.

Living in Bakersfield, CA is roughly 11% more expensive than Reno, NV, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bakersfield, CA 132% above, Reno, NV 109% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.31 $25.31

$19.86 $19.86

27.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.6 $66.6

$76.4 $76.4

-12.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.54 $12.54

$12.64 $12.64

-0.79%

Cappuccino

$5.51 $5.51

$5.31 $5.31

3.77%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$3.11 $3.11

-15.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.87 $1.87

5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.55 $5.55

$4.90 $4.90

13.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.07 $5.07

$6.58 $6.58

-22.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.34 $1.34

-20.90%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.01 $4.01

-2.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.75 $5.75

$4.65 $4.65

23.66%

Eggs

$2.99 $2.99

$4.53 $4.53

-34.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.32 $12.32

$11.62 $11.62

6.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.81 $15.81

$13.23 $13.23

19.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.33 $16.33

$21.66 $21.66

-24.61%

Apples (1kg)

$4.19 $4.19

$5.63 $5.63

-25.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.91 $1.91

-12.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.68 $4.68

$3.24 $3.24

44.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$7.57 $7.57

-31.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 $1.84

$3.46 $3.46

-46.82%

Onion (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$3.92 $3.92

-23.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.45 $2.45

8.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.48 $2.48

12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.56 $10.56

$9.69 $9.69

8.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.67 $17.67

$12.47 $12.47

41.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.76 $1.76

10.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 $4.56

$3.23 $3.23

41.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.02 $2.02

17.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.2 $57.2

$65.9 $65.9

-13.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 $2.97

$3.96 $3.96

-25.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.52 $2.52

-20.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.09 $29.09

$32.96 $32.96

-11.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.19 $1.19

6.72%

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

$23.5K $23.5K

$27.5K $27.5K

-14.51%

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

$27.2K $27.2K

$24.9K $24.9K

9.48%

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

$334 $334

$175 $175

90.50%

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

$53.7 $53.7

$64.9 $64.9

-17.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.3 $72.3

$81.8 $81.8

-11.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.01 $36.01

$42.59 $42.59

-15.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.47 $25.47

$18.26 $18.26

39.49%

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$14.57 $14.57

4.60%

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

$1,525 $1,525

$1,395 $1,395

9.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.0K $23.0K

$24.5K $24.5K

-5.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.10 $48.10

$55.0 $55.0

-12.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.19 $41.19

$51.8 $51.8

-20.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.0 $92.0

$91.2 $91.2

0.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$177 $177

$148 $148

20.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,847 $1,847

$1,559 $1,559

18.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,443 $1,443

$1,360 $1,360

6.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,426 $2,426

$2,528 $2,528

-4.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,471 $2,471

$2,167 $2,167

14.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,440 $2,440

$3,258 $3,258

-25.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,477 $2,477

$3,657 $3,657

-32.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,662 $3,662

$4,466 $4,466

-17.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

6.59

-0.46%

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

Last update for Bakersfield, CA: June 14, 2026

Last update for Reno, NV: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,847 in Bakersfield, CA and $1,559 in Reno, NV. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Reno, NV pays 22% 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 $76.0 in Reno, NV for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $435 vs $445 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 Reno, NV: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Reno, NV is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Reno, NV earns 22% less. 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: $1,847 in Bakersfield, CA versus $1,559 in Reno, NV. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Reno, NV – a meal for two runs $76.0 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 $3,090 per month in Bakersfield, CA versus $2,792 in Reno, NV – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Reno, NV is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Reno, NV gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Bakersfield, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.