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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,365 per month in Bethesda, MD vs $3,106 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,107 per month in Bethesda, MD vs $4,599 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,849 per month in Bethesda, MD vs $6,092 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Bethesda, MD costs about 8% more than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Bethesda, MD and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Bethesda, MD by 145%, Chicago, IL by 126%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.08 $20.08

$19.86 $19.86

1.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$103 $103

$88.3 $88.3

16.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.34 $11.34

$13.23 $13.23

-14.29%

Cappuccino

$4.44 $4.44

$5.86 $5.86

-24.23%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$2.61 $2.61

6.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.32 $2.32

1.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.79 $6.79

$7.03 $7.03

-3.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.25 $9.25

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.34 $1.34

-13.43%

White Bread (500g)

$4.13 $4.13

$4.19 $4.19

-1.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.97 $3.97

$5.50 $5.50

-27.82%

Eggs

$4.73 $4.73

$4.71 $4.71

0.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.83 $16.83

$14.72 $14.72

14.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.01 $16.01

$14.53 $14.53

10.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.73 $22.73

$19.69 $19.69

15.44%

Apples (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$5.64 $5.64

-14.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.97 $1.97

-31.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.13 $4.13

$4.04 $4.04

2.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$5.07 $5.07

-16.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.94 $2.94

-27.21%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.92 $2.92

-6.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.28 $2.28

20.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.12 $3.12

-18.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.86 $14.86

$16.19 $16.19

-8.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.11 $18.11

$15.17 $15.17

19.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.67 $2.67

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$3.48 $3.48

-10.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.54 $2.54

16.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.1 $98.1

$76.0 $76.0

29.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.16 $3.16

28.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.37 $1.37

121.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.47 $35.47

$22.66 $22.66

56.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.20 $1.20

-21.67%

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

$22.7K $22.7K

$37.0K $37.0K

-38.62%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$26.0K $26.0K

-4.39%

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

$215 $215

$190 $190

13.20%

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

$39.35 $39.35

$68.5 $68.5

-42.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.8 $76.8

$61.1 $61.1

25.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$104 $104

$63.8 $63.8

63.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.14 $30.14

$27.80 $27.80

8.42%

Cinema Ticket

$15.53 $15.53

$18.28 $18.28

-15.04%

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

$3,233 $3,233

$1,525 $1,525

112.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$65.2K $65.2K

$32.0K $32.0K

103.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.6 $70.6

$64.0 $64.0

10.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.0 $56.0

$54.4 $54.4

2.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 $132

$101 $101

31.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$137 $137

$153 $153

-10.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,293 $2,293

$2,421 $2,421

-5.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,892 $1,892

$1,690 $1,690

11.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,089 $4,089

$4,584 $4,584

-10.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,228 $3,228

$2,782 $2,782

16.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,020 $6,020

$4,170 $4,170

44.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,458 $5,458

$2,739 $2,739

99.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,749 $8,749

$4,777 $4,777

83.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.3

6.38

-1.25%

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

Last update for Bethesda, MD: August 29, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,293 in Bethesda, MD versus $2,421 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 83% higher in Bethesda, MD, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $103 in Bethesda, MD versus $88.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $461 in Bethesda, MD vs $465 in Chicago, IL – so Bethesda, MD wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Bethesda, MD is pricier by about 8%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,048 per month in Bethesda, MD and $4,659 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chicago, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $103 in Bethesda, MD and $88.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,365 in Bethesda, MD and $3,106 in Chicago, IL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,365 in Bethesda, MD and $3,106 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Chicago, IL – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Chicago, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bethesda, MD makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.