2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Grand Rapids, MI vs Bakersfield, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or is it cheaper to live in Grand Rapids?
- Bakersfield is 5.6% more expensive than Grand Rapids.

Which city has more affordable housing, Bakersfield or Grand Rapids?
- Bakersfield housing costs are 36.4% more expensive than Grand Rapids housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Grand Rapids or is Health Care more affordable in Bakersfield.
- Health related expenses are 12.8% more in Bakersfield.
 Grand Rapids, MIBakersfield, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock99.8100
 Food & Groceries95.2  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock91.6100
 Housing78.2  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$349,300$338,100
 Utilities100  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock103.6100
 Miscellaneous100.7  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Grand Rapids    62 Reviews

I've lived in Grand Rapids about 85% of my life and can confidently say it is a great place to live for anyone. I know countless people who dogged the city, moved  More

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Grand Rapids proper - the small city - is fairly OK. Nothing special stands out about it when judged against the nicer areas of the US, but it has some decent dining and  More

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Wow. “bland Rapids and everyone is Smug, uptight and part of the Christian Reformed Church. “ Someone is accurately describing Grand Rapids in 1985. Much has changed  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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