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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 3.8% cheaper than Bakersfield, CA without rent, and 1.1% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 18.6% more expensive than Bakersfield, CA without rent, and 8.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$24.72 $24.72

-15.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$66.2 $66.2

51.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.69 $12.69

-5.67%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.79 $5.79

-3.97%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.69 $2.69

15.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.94 $1.94

24.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.66 $5.66

21.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$4.96 $4.96

70.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.05 $1.05

-0.95%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.83 $3.83

8.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.78 $5.78

-4.50%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$2.9 $2.9

60.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.69 $12.69

12.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$15.86 $15.86

-6.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$16.63 $16.63

16.30%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.21 $4.21

22.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.69 $1.69

1.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.52 $4.52

-2.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.2 $5.2

-13.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.83 $1.83

38.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.93 $2.93

-6.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.65 $2.65

-8.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.79 $2.79

-3.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.65 $10.65

42.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.84 $14.84

10.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.89 $1.89

24.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.54 $4.54

-18.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.39 $2.39

5.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$55.9 $55.9

32.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.94 $2.94

13.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.01 $2.01

-29.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.04 $29.04

-12.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.26 $1.26

-14.29%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$23.5K $23.5K

37.84%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$27.2K $27.2K

-3.64%

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

$188 $188

$341 $341

-44.89%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$53.4 $53.4

19.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$71.4 $71.4

-8.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$36.14 $36.14

112.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$24.97 $24.97

-47.82%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.88 $14.88

0.34%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,479 $1,479

39.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.6K $23.6K

66.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$47.24 $47.24

36.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$42.38 $42.38

23.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$91.8 $91.8

3.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$180 $180

-19.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,864 $1,864

27.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,474 $1,474

7.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,407 $2,407

97.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,429 $2,429

15.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,506 $2,506

43.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,519 $2,519

-1.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,867 $3,867

36.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.56

0.61%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Bakersfield, CA: October 28, 2025

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