Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Bakersfield, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Lisbon: $2,210 a month against $2,855 in Bakersfield, CA, rent and utilities included – about $7,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Lisbon, Portugal
Bakersfield, CA, United States
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Bakersfield, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,855
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Bakersfield, CA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisbon and in Bakersfield, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $2,855 in Bakersfield, CA.

  • Lisbon $2,210
  • Bakersfield, CA $2,855

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,275 in Lisbon versus $3,902 in Bakersfield, CA.

  • Lisbon $3,275
  • Bakersfield, CA $3,902

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,341 in Lisbon versus $4,949 in Bakersfield, CA.

  • Lisbon $4,341
  • Bakersfield, CA $4,949

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 23% less than in Bakersfield, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 62% above, Bakersfield, CA 110% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Bakersfield, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.65 €14.95
$18.64 $18.64
-10.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.7 €55.5
$64.8 $64.8
-4.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.36 €10.20
$14.10 $14.10
-19.43%
Cappuccino
$2.97 €2.67
$5.74 $5.74
-48.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.06
$2.73 $2.73
-16.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.56
$2.01 $2.01
-13.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €3.06
$5.90 $5.90
-42.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 €2.97
$5.81 $5.81
-43.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Bakersfield, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 €1.04
$1.09 $1.09
6.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.72
$4.16 $4.16
-54.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 €1.36
$5.07 $5.07
-70.22%
Eggs
$4.02 €3.61
$3.29 $3.29
22.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.94 €11.62
$12.75 $12.75
1.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.77 €6.98
$13.34 $13.34
-41.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.76 €15.95
$15.93 $15.93
11.49%
Apples (1kg)
$2.30 €2.07
$4.16 $4.16
-44.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 €1.56
$2.04 $2.04
-15.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 €1.67
$3.95 $3.95
-52.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.59 €2.33
$3.79 $3.79
-31.66%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 €1.64
$2.14 $2.14
-14.95%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.77
$2.42 $2.42
-18.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 €1.32
$2.12 $2.12
-30.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 €0.65
$2.48 $2.48
-70.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.91
$11.59 $11.59
-43.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.61 €5.04
$17.80 $17.80
-68.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.22
$1.97 $1.97
-30.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 €1.92
$4.79 $4.79
-55.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Bakersfield, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 €2.10
$1.62 $1.62
43.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.68 €40.14
$58.1 $58.1
-23.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.85 €3.46
$3.03 $3.03
27.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 €0.96
$2.07 $2.07
-48.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.46 €14.79
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.20 €1.98
$1.52 $1.52
44.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K €30.7K
$27.5K $27.5K
24.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K €34.8K
$27.2K $27.2K
42.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Bakersfield, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 €145
$390 $390
-58.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.41 €16.54
$59.4 $59.4
-68.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.74 €29.41
$74.9 $74.9
-56.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Bakersfield, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.55 €40.02
$32.71 $32.71
36.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 €17.16
$24.81 $24.81
-23.01%
Cinema Ticket
$9.60 €8.62
$15.11 $15.11
-36.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Bakersfield, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$668 €600
$1,501 $1,501
-55.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.8K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Bakersfield, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €91.6
$59.9 $59.9
70.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.46 €39.94
$47.66 $47.66
-6.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.5 €88.5
$98.9 $98.9
-0.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €111
$120 $120
2.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Bakersfield, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 €1,445
$1,536 $1,536
4.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,190 €1,069
$1,311 $1,311
-9.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,812 €2,526
$1,828 $1,828
53.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,013 €1,808
$1,834 $1,834
9.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,839 €7,042
$2,742 $2,742
185.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,576 €4,110
$2,430 $2,430
88.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Bakersfield, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,575 €1,415
$3,743 $3,743
-57.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
6.43
-40.12%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Last update for Bakersfield, CA: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Bakersfield, CA
$1.3K 10.1% $121
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$272
Bakersfield, CA
$411 50.9% $139
Eating Out
Lisbon
$243
Bakersfield, CA
$320 32% $78
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$212
Bakersfield, CA
$525 147% $312
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$166
Bakersfield, CA
$147 11.4% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$64
Bakersfield, CA
$63 1.3% $0.8
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Bakersfield, CA
$78 23.4% $15

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,608 in Lisbon and $1,536 in Bakersfield, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bakersfield, CA pays about 2.4 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $62 in Lisbon vs $65 in Bakersfield, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $272 vs $411 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇺🇸 Bakersfield, CA
🕒 Local time
22:11 10:11 PM
15:11 3:11 PM
7 h behind Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
373,640
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.898 EUR (1 EUR = 1.11 USD).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Bakersfield, CA 9,080 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Bakersfield, CA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Lisbon vs Bakersfield, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon cheaper than Bakersfield, CA?
Lisbon is about 23% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, utilities, and eating out. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Bakersfield, CA?
On paper, salaries run 58% lower in Lisbon. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Lisbon and Bakersfield, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,608 in Lisbon versus $1,536 in Bakersfield, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Lisbon or in Bakersfield, CA?
Dining out is cheaper in Lisbon – a meal for two runs $62 versus $65 in Bakersfield, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon and in Bakersfield, CA?
All in, you’ll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $2,855 in Bakersfield, CA – Lisbon is about 23% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Is it better to live in Lisbon or in Bakersfield, CA?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Lisbon wins on affordability, Bakersfield, CA on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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