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: $3,365 in Bethesda, MD versus $2,695 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,107 in Bethesda, MD versus $4,184 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,849 in Bethesda, MD versus $5,674 in Austin, TX.

Living in Bethesda, MD is roughly 25% more expensive than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bethesda, MD 145% above, Austin, TX 96% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.08 $20.08

$19.82 $19.82

1.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$103 $103

$83.9 $83.9

22.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.34 $11.34

$12.30 $12.30

-7.80%

Cappuccino

$4.44 $4.44

$5.48 $5.48

-18.98%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$3.72 $3.72

-25.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.79 $6.79

$7.76 $7.76

-12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.25 $9.25

$9.14 $9.14

1.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.13 $1.13

2.65%

White Bread (500g)

$4.13 $4.13

$3.75 $3.75

10.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.43 $3.43

15.74%

Eggs

$4.73 $4.73

$4.35 $4.35

8.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.83 $16.83

$13.14 $13.14

28.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.01 $16.01

$14.39 $14.39

11.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.73 $22.73

$17.20 $17.20

32.15%

Apples (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$4.49 $4.49

7.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.44 $1.44

-6.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.13 $4.13

$4.67 $4.67

-11.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.97 $4.97

-14.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$3.00 $3.00

-28.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.69 $2.69

1.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.85 $1.85

48.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.18 $2.18

16.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.86 $14.86

$9.45 $9.45

57.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.11 $18.11

$15.11 $15.11

19.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.89 $2.89

-38.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$3.49 $3.49

-10.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

$1.64 $1.64

79.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.1 $98.1

$40.44 $40.44

142.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.06 $4.06

$2.81 $2.81

44.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.58 $1.58

92.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.47 $35.47

$35.18 $35.18

0.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$0.90 $0.90

4.44%

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

$22.7K $22.7K

$35.9K $35.9K

-36.67%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$27.7K $27.7K

-9.95%

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

$215 $215

$222 $222

-3.35%

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

$39.35 $39.35

$58.3 $58.3

-32.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.8 $76.8

$69.1 $69.1

11.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$104 $104

$66.2 $66.2

57.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.14 $30.14

$14.76 $14.76

104.20%

Cinema Ticket

$15.53 $15.53

$13.78 $13.78

12.70%

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

$3,233 $3,233

$1,526 $1,526

111.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$65.2K $65.2K

$21.2K $21.2K

207.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.6 $70.6

$54.6 $54.6

29.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.0 $56.0

$44.01 $44.01

27.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 $132

$89.7 $89.7

47.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$137 $137

$109 $109

26.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,293 $2,293

$1,942 $1,942

18.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,892 $1,892

$1,258 $1,258

50.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,089 $4,089

$3,762 $3,762

8.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,228 $3,228

$2,592 $2,592

24.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,020 $6,020

$7,403 $7,403

-18.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,458 $5,458

$3,203 $3,203

70.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,749 $8,749

$5,085 $5,085

72.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.3

6.44

-2.17%

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

Last update for Bethesda, MD: August 29, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,293 in Bethesda, MD and $1,942 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bethesda, MD pays 72% 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: $103 in Bethesda, MD vs $84.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $461 vs $417 per month, with Austin, TX cheaper across the board.

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.

Average pay runs 72% higher in Bethesda, MD, 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: $2,293 in Bethesda, MD versus $1,942 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,365 per month in Bethesda, MD versus $2,695 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 143% 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.