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 21.6% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 22% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Bethesda, MD is 1.7% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 15.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bethesda, MD
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.58 $16.58
$19.50 $19.50
-14.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.5 $81.5
$75.3 $75.3
8.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.22 $8.22
$9.88 $9.88
-16.80%
Cappuccino
$5.71 $5.71
$5.74 $5.74
-0.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.78 $2.78
-9.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 $2.25
$2.13 $2.13
5.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.02 $6.02
$6.11 $6.11
-1.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92 $7.92
$7.86 $7.86
0.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bethesda, MD
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 $1.21
$1.09 $1.09
11.01%
White Bread (500g)
$3.93 $3.93
$3.44 $3.44
14.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.78 $3.78
$3.31 $3.31
14.20%
Eggs
$4.30 $4.30
$4.29 $4.29
0.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.83 $8.83
$11.98 $11.98
-26.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.67 $10.67
$10.74 $10.74
-0.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.68 $12.68
$14.79 $14.79
-14.27%
Apples (1kg)
$4.67 $4.67
$5.00 $5.00
-6.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 $1.39
$1.49 $1.49
-6.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.12 $4.12
$4.43 $4.43
-7.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.26 $4.26
$3.95 $3.95
7.85%
Potato (1kg)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.75 $2.75
-21.82%
Onion (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$2.73 $2.73
0.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.26 $2.26
$2.04 $2.04
10.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.26 $2.26
-8.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.89 $13.89
$9.09 $9.09
52.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.67 $17.67
$14.99 $14.99
17.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.35 $2.35
-25.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 $3.23
$3.54 $3.54
-8.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Bethesda, MD
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.01 $3.01
$1.49 $1.49
102.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$102 $102
$44.05 $44.05
130.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.06 $5.06
$4.47 $4.47
13.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.36 $1.36
$1.76 $1.76
-22.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.57 $35.57
$34.44 $34.44
3.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 $0.82
$0.74 $0.74
10.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3K $23.3K
$25.6K $25.6K
-9.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$26.7K $26.7K
-3.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bethesda, MD
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$248 $248
$172 $172
44.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.32 $38.32
$59.3 $59.3
-35.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$83.3 $83.3
$66.5 $66.5
25.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bethesda, MD
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$141 $141
$63.1 $63.1
122.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.52 $29.52
$10.17 $10.17
190.27%
Cinema Ticket
$15.14 $15.14
$15.28 $15.28
-0.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bethesda, MD
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,133 $3,133
$1,406 $1,406
122.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$65.1K $65.1K
$22.0K $22.0K
196.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bethesda, MD
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.7 $68.7
$56.4 $56.4
21.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.8 $57.8
$45.72 $45.72
26.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.7 $95.7
$86.0 $86.0
11.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147 $147
$118 $118
25.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bethesda, MD
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,236 $2,236
$2,196 $2,196
1.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,877 $1,877
$1,434 $1,434
30.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,999 $3,999
$3,878 $3,878
3.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,185 $3,185
$2,610 $2,610
22.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,917 $5,917
$7,228 $7,228
-18.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,310 $5,310
$3,282 $3,282
61.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bethesda, MD
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$8,660 $8,660
$4,984 $4,984
73.74%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: April 13, 2026

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

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