2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
San Diego, CA vs Bakersfield, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or is it cheaper to live in San Diego?
- Bakersfield is 35.6% less expensive than San Diego.

Which city has more affordable housing, Bakersfield or San Diego?
- Bakersfield housing costs are 61.7% less expensive than San Diego housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in San Diego or is Health Care more affordable in Bakersfield.
- Health related expenses are 2.9% more in Bakersfield.
 San Diego, CABakersfield, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock99.8100
 Food & Groceries109.7  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock91.6100
 Housing278.4  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$349,300$338,100
 Utilities103  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock103.6100
 Miscellaneous153.9  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for San Diego    319 Reviews

I have lived in San Diego for more than half my life (I am 30) and love it. It has something for everyone and more from arts, to sporting events, and all cuisine is  More

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The only real knock again San Diego is the cost of living, but it is paradise compared to most cities of similar size. Those who complain about the traffic here or say  More

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I have lived in San Diego since 1968 and I am now almost 62 years old. I love San Diego, I really do. But it has become so crowded and so expensive over the years. It  More

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Reviews for Bakersfield    75 Reviews

I am a millennial, born and raised here. As someone who wrestled with staying for years, there are a lot of valid reasons to not come to Bakersfield. Air quality, summer  More

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Over 4 years ago

I have lived here all of my life. 40+ years. It used to be fun and kinda safe but now it is so scary to go outside. We are literally a homeless dumping ground and there  More

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I moved here from Seattle 25 years ago, when it had a population of 200,000, and practically the only place to get coffee was a place called “Duke’s Ranch”. Why did I  More

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