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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,315 in Bethesda, MD versus $2,659 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,792 in Bethesda, MD versus $4,101 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,270 in Bethesda, MD versus $5,542 in Austin, TX.

Living in Bethesda, MD is roughly 25% more expensive than Austin, TX, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bethesda, MD 147% above, Austin, TX 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.18 $16.18

$19.63 $19.63

-17.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.3 $81.3

$75.1 $75.1

8.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.83 $7.83

$9.92 $9.92

-21.07%

Cappuccino

$5.75 $5.75

$5.67 $5.67

1.41%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.77 $2.77

-9.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.17 $2.17

8.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$5.84 $5.84

2.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.76 $7.76

$7.77 $7.77

-0.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.09 $1.09

8.26%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.41 $3.41

14.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$3.43 $3.43

10.50%

Eggs

$4.41 $4.41

$4.39 $4.39

0.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.70 $8.70

$11.95 $11.95

-27.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.95 $10.95

$10.76 $10.76

1.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.83 $12.83

$14.29 $14.29

-10.22%

Apples (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$4.84 $4.84

-6.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.55 $1.55

-12.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$4.46 $4.46

-6.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.91 $3.91

6.65%

Potato (1kg)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.74 $2.74

-20.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.74 $2.74

-4.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.04 $2.04

7.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.25 $2.25

-8.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.19 $14.19

$8.93 $8.93

58.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.77 $17.77

$14.85 $14.85

19.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.35 $2.35

-24.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$3.57 $3.57

-12.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.47 $1.47

98.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.3 $98.3

$42.98 $42.98

128.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.15 $5.15

$4.28 $4.28

20.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.84 $1.84

-23.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.05 $35.05

$35.54 $35.54

-1.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$0.72 $0.72

15.28%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.9K $22.9K

$25.7K $25.7K

-11.07%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

-2.36%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$245 $245

$174 $174

41.19%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$39.66 $39.66

$60.2 $60.2

-34.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.4 $85.4

$66.3 $66.3

28.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$62.8 $62.8

127.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.29 $30.29

$9.83 $9.83

208.14%

Cinema Ticket

$14.89 $14.89

$15.24 $15.24

-2.30%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$3,132 $3,132

$1,387 $1,387

125.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$64.4K $64.4K

$22.2K $22.2K

190.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.0 $69.0

$56.7 $56.7

21.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.2 $57.2

$45.34 $45.34

26.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.4 $98.4

$86.5 $86.5

13.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$119 $119

21.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,275 $2,275

$2,247 $2,247

1.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,881 $1,881

$1,430 $1,430

31.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,061 $4,061

$3,778 $3,778

7.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,163 $3,163

$2,641 $2,641

19.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,091 $6,091

$7,044 $7,044

-13.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,432 $5,432

$3,162 $3,162

71.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,621 $8,621

$5,108 $5,108

68.77%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,275 in Bethesda, MD and $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bethesda, MD pays 69% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $81.0 in Bethesda, MD vs $75.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $368 vs $377, with Bethesda, MD cheaper for home cooking.

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

Bethesda, MD vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Bethesda, MD. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Bethesda, MD pays 69% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,275 in Bethesda, MD versus $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,315 per month in Bethesda, MD versus $2,659 in Austin, TX – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 129% less than in Bethesda, MD. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Bethesda, MD. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.