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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,184 in Chicago, IL versus $3,149 in Bakersfield, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,725 in Chicago, IL versus $4,329 in Bakersfield, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,266 in Chicago, IL versus $5,509 in Bakersfield, CA.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Bakersfield, CA 128% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$19.27 $19.27

5.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.8 $88.8

$65.6 $65.6

35.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.16 $13.16

$13.77 $13.77

-4.43%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$5.76 $5.76

0.17%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$2.58 $2.58

1.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.98 $1.98

18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$6.10 $6.10

15.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.18 $9.18

$5.87 $5.87

56.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.14 $1.14

14.04%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$4.04 $4.04

0.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$5.11 $5.11

11.35%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$3.30 $3.30

46.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$13.01 $13.01

15.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.87 $14.87

$12.91 $12.91

15.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$15.60 $15.60

23.59%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$4.14 $4.14

37.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.98 $1.98

-2.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$3.87 $3.87

5.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$3.92 $3.92

30.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.19 $2.19

33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.32 $2.32

19.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.03 $2.03

13.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.38 $2.38

27.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.93 $15.93

$10.15 $10.15

56.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$17.64 $17.64

-14.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.87 $1.87

35.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$4.97 $4.97

-29.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.75 $1.75

44.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

$56.5 $56.5

32.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.96 $2.96

10.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$2.03 $2.03

-33.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.55 $22.55

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.44 $1.44

-15.28%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$36.4K $36.4K

-0.72%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.9K $26.9K

-3.39%

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

$188 $188

$398 $398

-52.64%

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

$69.0 $69.0

$58.7 $58.7

17.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 $63.6

$72.9 $72.9

-12.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.4 $63.4

$39.22 $39.22

61.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.11 $27.11

$25.46 $25.46

6.48%

Cinema Ticket

$17.90 $17.90

$15.21 $15.21

17.69%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,523 $1,523

0.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 $62.1

$61.6 $61.6

0.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 $56.4

$48.44 $48.44

16.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

0.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$123 $123

26.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 $2,342

$1,740 $1,740

34.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,698 $1,698

$1,585 $1,585

7.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,576 $4,576

$2,344 $2,344

95.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$2,462 $2,462

13.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,130 $4,130

$2,448 $2,448

68.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,740 $2,740

$2,523 $2,523

8.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,891 $4,891

$3,623 $3,623

34.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.36

0.31%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 6, 2026

Last update for Bakersfield, CA: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,342 in Chicago, IL and $1,740 in Bakersfield, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 35% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $89.0 in Chicago, IL vs $66.0 in Bakersfield, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $465 vs $406 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

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

Bakersfield, CA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 35% higher in Chicago, IL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,342 in Chicago, IL versus $1,740 in Bakersfield, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Bakersfield, CA – a meal for two runs $66.0 versus $89.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,184 per month in Chicago, IL versus $3,149 in Bakersfield, CA – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

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

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