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: $3,087 in Bakersfield, CA versus $2,794 in Reno, NV.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,375 in Bakersfield, CA versus $4,076 in Reno, NV.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,662 in Bakersfield, CA versus $5,358 in Reno, NV.

Living in Bakersfield, CA is roughly 10% more expensive than in Reno, NV, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bakersfield, CA 132% above, Reno, NV 110% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.73 $24.73

$20.18 $20.18

22.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.9 $67.9

$75.4 $75.4

-9.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.64 $12.64

$12.29 $12.29

2.85%

Cappuccino

$5.73 $5.73

$5.12 $5.12

11.91%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$3.04 $3.04

-12.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.89 $1.89

4.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.54 $5.54

$4.98 $4.98

11.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.97 $4.97

$6.54 $6.54

-24.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.29 $1.29

-21.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.77 $3.77

$3.99 $3.99

-5.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$4.61 $4.61

21.04%

Eggs

$2.90 $2.90

$4.71 $4.71

-38.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.54 $12.54

$11.80 $11.80

6.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.74 $15.74

$13.19 $13.19

19.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.70 $16.70

$21.96 $21.96

-23.95%

Apples (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$5.56 $5.56

-22.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.83 $1.83

-4.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$3.32 $3.32

43.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.26 $5.26

$7.82 $7.82

-32.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 $1.87

$3.50 $3.50

-46.57%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.93 $3.93

-25.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.32 $2.32

8.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.61 $2.61

7.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.70 $10.70

$9.63 $9.63

11.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 $18.20

$12.48 $12.48

45.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 $1.87

$1.78 $1.78

5.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.75 $4.75

$3.22 $3.22

47.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.04 $2.04

17.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.9 $56.9

$64.3 $64.3

-11.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.98 $2.98

$3.88 $3.88

-23.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.60 $2.60

-21.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.50 $29.50

$32.55 $32.55

-9.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.17 $1.17

3.42%

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

$23.8K $23.8K

$27.1K $27.1K

-12.02%

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

$27.2K $27.2K

$25.1K $25.1K

8.26%

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

$338 $338

$180 $180

87.95%

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

$54.2 $54.2

$64.8 $64.8

-16.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.0 $72.0

$82.2 $82.2

-12.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.79 $36.79

$41.17 $41.17

-10.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.70 $24.70

$18.59 $18.59

32.87%

Cinema Ticket

$14.82 $14.82

$14.46 $14.46

2.49%

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

$1,494 $1,494

$1,384 $1,384

7.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.4K $23.4K

$24.9K $24.9K

-6.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.96 $47.96

$52.9 $52.9

-9.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.27 $42.27

$50.8 $50.8

-16.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.6 $92.6

$92.2 $92.2

0.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$175 $175

$147 $147

18.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,817 $1,817

$1,567 $1,567

15.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,456 $1,456

$1,374 $1,374

5.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$2,514 $2,514

-4.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,400 $2,400

$2,218 $2,218

8.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,454 $2,454

$3,360 $3,360

-26.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,505 $2,505

$3,579 $3,579

-30.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,628 $3,628

$4,288 $4,288

-15.38%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Reno, NV: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,817 in Bakersfield, CA and $1,567 in Reno, NV. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Reno, NV pays 18% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $68.0 in Bakersfield, CA vs $75.0 in Reno, NV for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $436 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 Reno, NV: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Reno, NV is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 18% lower in Reno, NV. 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: $1,817 in Bakersfield, CA versus $1,567 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 $75.0 versus $68.0 in Bakersfield, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,087 per month in Bakersfield, CA versus $2,794 in Reno, NV – a 10% 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 10% less than in Bakersfield, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.