2026 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Virginia Beach, VA vs Bakersfield, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or is it cheaper to live in Virginia Beach?
- Bakersfield is 4.8% less expensive than Virginia Beach.

Which city has more affordable housing, Bakersfield or Virginia Beach?
- Bakersfield housing costs are 2.9% less expensive than Virginia Beach housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Virginia Beach or is Health Care more affordable in Bakersfield.
- Health related expenses are 12.9% less in Bakersfield.
 Virginia Beach, VABakersfield, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock99.8100
 Food & Groceries100.3  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock91.6100
 Housing109.9  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$349,300$338,100
 Utilities97  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock103.6100
 Miscellaneous140.8  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Virginia Beach    95 Reviews

Over 5 years ago

If you lived here prior to 2005, your experience in Virginia Beach is likely between good and wonderful. There are still pros to living here. Other reviews have  More

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Over 7 years ago

I lived in the Hampton Roads area for 11 years while I was in the Navy. It was a bit of a culture shock, since I grew up in a small rural town in Maine with 900 people.  More

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Over 8 years ago

I lived in the Kempsville area of VB growing up and loved it. There's no way to be bored when you have so many public and neighborhood parks, libraries, events,  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 5 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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