Cost of Living Comparison Between Bethesda, MD and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Bethesda, MD and Austin, TX

😐 Solo nomad: Bethesda, MD is 26.4% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 25.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Bethesda, MD is 12.3% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 15.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bethesda, MD
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.36 $16.36
$20.03 $20.03
-18.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.1 $79.1
$75.7 $75.7
4.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.85 $7.85
$10.17 $10.17
-22.81%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$5.78 $5.78
-2.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 $2.56
$2.65 $2.65
-3.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$2.12 $2.12
7.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.02 $6.02
$5.89 $5.89
2.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.13 $8.13
$8.04 $8.04
1.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bethesda, MD
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 $1.23
$1.15 $1.15
6.96%
White Bread (500g)
$4.04 $4.04
$3.42 $3.42
18.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.95 $3.95
$3.43 $3.43
15.16%
Eggs
$4.44 $4.44
$4.33 $4.33
2.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.00 $9.00
$11.79 $11.79
-23.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.62 $10.62
$10.44 $10.44
1.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 $12.81
$14.57 $14.57
-12.08%
Apples (1kg)
$4.52 $4.52
$4.82 $4.82
-6.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.35 $1.35
$1.57 $1.57
-14.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.02 $4.02
$4.50 $4.50
-10.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.24 $4.24
$3.93 $3.93
7.89%
Potato (1kg)
$2.16 $2.16
$2.71 $2.71
-20.30%
Onion (1kg)
$2.62 $2.62
$2.88 $2.88
-9.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.18 $2.18
$1.97 $1.97
10.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.18 $2.18
-6.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.04 $14.04
$9.11 $9.11
54.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.24 $18.24
$15.29 $15.29
19.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$2.36 $2.36
-28.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 $3.24
$3.56 $3.56
-8.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Bethesda, MD
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.09 $3.09
$1.48 $1.48
108.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$98.7 $98.7
$43.25 $43.25
128.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.98 $4.98
$4.46 $4.46
11.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 $1.39
$1.80 $1.80
-22.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.73 $34.73
$34.81 $34.81
-0.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$0.79 $0.79
11.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7K $22.7K
$25.8K $25.8K
-11.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$26.8K $26.8K
-5.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bethesda, MD
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$253 $253
$175 $175
44.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.07 $39.07
$58.4 $58.4
-33.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$82.3 $82.3
$66.9 $66.9
22.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bethesda, MD
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$143 $143
$62.2 $62.2
130.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.68 $29.68
$10.10 $10.10
193.86%
Cinema Ticket
$15.23 $15.23
$14.84 $14.84
2.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bethesda, MD
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,225 $3,225
$1,385 $1,385
132.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$65.5K $65.5K
$21.7K $21.7K
202.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bethesda, MD
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.9 $69.9
$56.0 $56.0
24.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5 $57.5
$46.16 $46.16
24.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.2 $97.2
$87.1 $87.1
11.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149 $149
$116 $116
28.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bethesda, MD
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,231 $2,231
$2,211 $2,211
0.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,904 $1,904
$1,435 $1,435
32.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,077 $4,077
$3,833 $3,833
6.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,227 $3,227
$2,695 $2,695
19.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,954 $5,954
$7,347 $7,347
-18.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,313 $5,313
$3,180 $3,180
67.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bethesda, MD
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$8,804 $8,804
$4,945 $4,945
78.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.75
6.45
4.65%

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

Last update for Bethesda, MD: March 2, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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