Cost of Living Comparison Between Bethesda, MD and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Bethesda, MD and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Bethesda, MD is 12.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Bethesda, MD is 5.9% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 1.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bethesda, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.37 $16.37
$20.82 $20.82
-21.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.4 $81.4
$100 $100
-18.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.18 $8.18
$11.97 $11.97
-31.66%
Cappuccino
$5.55 $5.55
$5.56 $5.56
-0.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 $2.43
$3.11 $3.11
-21.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 $2.24
$2.42 $2.42
-7.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.08 $6.08
$6.86 $6.86
-11.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.11 $8.11
$8.45 $8.45
-4.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bethesda, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 $1.17
$1.04 $1.04
12.50%
White Bread (500g)
$3.87 $3.87
$4.15 $4.15
-6.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.89 $3.89
$5.52 $5.52
-29.53%
Eggs
$4.38 $4.38
$4.65 $4.65
-5.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.56 $8.56
$14.33 $14.33
-40.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.66 $10.66
$14.88 $14.88
-28.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.85 $12.85
$19.34 $19.34
-33.56%
Apples (1kg)
$4.69 $4.69
$5.17 $5.17
-9.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.4 $1.4
$1.71 $1.71
-18.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.08 $4.08
$4.41 $4.41
-7.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.28 $4.28
$4.51 $4.51
-5.10%
Potato (1kg)
$2.14 $2.14
$2.53 $2.53
-15.42%
Onion (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.74 $2.74
-0.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.43 $2.43
-9.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.7 $2.7
-25.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.86 $13.86
$15.19 $15.19
-8.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.08 $18.08
$16.42 $16.42
10.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.35 $2.35
-25.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 $3.27
$3.7 $3.7
-11.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Bethesda, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.04 $3.04
$2.53 $2.53
20.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$98.3 $98.3
$74.1 $74.1
32.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.9 $4.9
$3.34 $3.34
46.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.33 $1.33
$1.42 $1.42
-6.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.41 $34.41
$25.42 $25.42
35.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.08 $1.08
-20.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K $23.1K
$32.4K $32.4K
-28.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$26.2K $26.2K
-1.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bethesda, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$247 $247
$188 $188
31.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.27 $39.27
$63.7 $63.7
-38.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$82.8 $82.8
$65.2 $65.2
26.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bethesda, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$139 $139
$76.7 $76.7
80.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.22 $30.22
$13.03 $13.03
131.93%
Cinema Ticket
$15.17 $15.17
$14.93 $14.93
1.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bethesda, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,213 $3,213
$2,063 $2,063
55.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$65.2K $65.2K
$39.2K $39.2K
66.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bethesda, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.8 $68.8
$64.3 $64.3
7.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.9 $56.9
$52.4 $52.4
8.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.1 $98.1
$95.2 $95.2
3.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148 $148
$145 $145
2.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bethesda, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,284 $2,284
$2,378 $2,378
-3.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,841 $1,841
$1,584 $1,584
16.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,089 $4,089
$4,763 $4,763
-14.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,145 $3,145
$2,815 $2,815
11.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,032 $6,032
$3,588 $3,588
68.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,311 $5,311
$2,490 $2,490
113.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bethesda, MD
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$8,504 $8,504
$5,275 $5,275
61.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.75
6.6
2.27%

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

Last update for Bethesda, MD: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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