Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Bakersfield, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Bakersfield, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,886 in Seattle, WA versus $3,149 in Bakersfield, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,699 in Seattle, WA versus $4,329 in Bakersfield, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,513 in Seattle, WA versus $5,509 in Bakersfield, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 23% more expensive than in Bakersfield, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 182% above, Bakersfield, CA 128% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

$19.27 $19.27

31.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$65.6 $65.6

53.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$13.77 $13.77

7.48%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$5.76 $5.76

15.10%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.58 $2.58

19.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.98 $1.98

49.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$6.10 $6.10

30.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$5.87 $5.87

34.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.14 $1.14

7.02%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.04 $4.04

27.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$5.11 $5.11

20.55%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$3.30 $3.30

53.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$13.01 $13.01

63.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$12.91 $12.91

42.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$15.60 $15.60

47.69%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$4.14 $4.14

45.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.98 $1.98

-5.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$3.87 $3.87

34.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$3.92 $3.92

62.50%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$2.19 $2.19

72.60%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.32 $2.32

42.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.03 $2.03

41.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.38 $2.38

11.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$10.15 $10.15

37.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$17.64 $17.64

-14.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$1.87 $1.87

122.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$4.97 $4.97

13.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.75 $1.75

69.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

$56.5 $56.5

90.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.96 $2.96

-13.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.03 $2.03

-18.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.44 $1.44

1.39%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$36.4K $36.4K

-0.93%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.9K $26.9K

-5.39%

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

$306 $306

$398 $398

-23.04%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$58.7 $58.7

19.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$72.9 $72.9

19.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

$39.22 $39.22

103.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

$25.46 $25.46

36.45%

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$15.21 $15.21

17.36%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$1,523 $1,523

98.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$61.6 $61.6

24.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$48.44 $48.44

11.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$101 $101

24.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$123 $123

31.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$1,740 $1,740

41.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$1,585 $1,585

24.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

$2,344 $2,344

108.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$2,462 $2,462

47.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

$2,448 $2,448

201.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

$2,523 $2,523

98.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

$3,623 $3,623

70.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.36

1.42%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Bakersfield, CA: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,456 in Seattle, WA and $1,740 in Bakersfield, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 70% 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: $101 in Seattle, WA vs $66.0 in Bakersfield, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $551 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

Seattle, WA 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, Getting Around. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 70% higher in Seattle, WA, 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: $2,456 in Seattle, WA 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 $101 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,886 per month in Seattle, WA versus $3,149 in Bakersfield, CA – a 23% 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 Seattle, WA, 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 23% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.