Cost of Living Comparison Between Bethesda, MD and Colorado Springs, CO Cost of Living Comparison Between Bethesda, MD and Colorado Springs, CO

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,365 per month in Bethesda, MD vs $3,042 in Colorado Springs, CO, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,107 per month in Bethesda, MD vs $4,360 in Colorado Springs, CO, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,849 per month in Bethesda, MD vs $5,679 in Colorado Springs, CO, rent included.

Bethesda, MD costs about 11% more than Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Bethesda, MD and Colorado Springs, CO sit above the global median – Bethesda, MD by 145%, Colorado Springs, CO by 121%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.08 $20.08

$19.93 $19.93

0.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$103 $103

$85.7 $85.7

20.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.34 $11.34

$12.78 $12.78

-11.27%

Cappuccino

$4.44 $4.44

$5.41 $5.41

-17.93%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$2.68 $2.68

3.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.23 $2.23

5.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.79 $6.79

$5.91 $5.91

14.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.25 $9.25

$7.16 $7.16

29.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.00 $1.00

16.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.13 $4.13

$3.30 $3.30

25.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.97 $3.97

$4.16 $4.16

-4.57%

Eggs

$4.73 $4.73

$5.98 $5.98

-20.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.83 $16.83

$15.00 $15.00

12.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.01 $16.01

$13.47 $13.47

18.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.73 $22.73

$19.02 $19.02

19.51%

Apples (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$5.52 $5.52

-12.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.42 $1.42

-5.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.13 $4.13

$4.53 $4.53

-8.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.73 $4.73

-10.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.42 $2.42

-11.57%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.54 $2.54

7.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.38 $2.38

15.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.94 $1.94

30.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.86 $14.86

$10.60 $10.60

40.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.11 $18.11

$19.16 $19.16

-5.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$3.23 $3.23

-44.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$4.52 $4.52

-30.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

$1.77 $1.77

66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.1 $98.1

$63.8 $63.8

53.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.75 $3.75

8.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.44 $1.44

111.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.47 $35.47

$24.90 $24.90

42.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.02 $1.02

-7.84%

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

$22.7K $22.7K

$24.9K $24.9K

-8.60%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$25.2K $25.2K

-1.03%

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

$215 $215

$201 $201

6.57%

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

$39.35 $39.35

$94.3 $94.3

-58.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.8 $76.8

$102 $102

-24.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$104 $104

$57.7 $57.7

80.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.14 $30.14

$34.19 $34.19

-11.85%

Cinema Ticket

$15.53 $15.53

$14.88 $14.88

4.37%

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

$3,233 $3,233

$1,475 $1,475

119.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$65.2K $65.2K

$24.3K $24.3K

167.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.6 $70.6

$57.6 $57.6

22.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.0 $56.0

$34.75 $34.75

61.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 $132

$80.7 $80.7

63.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$137 $137

$101 $101

35.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,293 $2,293

$1,712 $1,712

33.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,892 $1,892

$1,509 $1,509

25.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,089 $4,089

$2,651 $2,651

54.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,228 $3,228

$2,390 $2,390

35.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,020 $6,020

$2,596 $2,596

131.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,458 $5,458

$2,405 $2,405

126.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,749 $8,749

$4,242 $4,242

106.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.3

6.14

2.61%

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

Last update for Bethesda, MD: August 29, 2026

Last update for Colorado Springs, CO: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,293 in Bethesda, MD versus $1,712 in Colorado Springs, CO. 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 106% 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 $86.0 in Colorado Springs, CO. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $461 vs $440 – making Colorado Springs, CO the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Colorado Springs, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Bethesda, MD is pricier by about 11%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $4,562 in Colorado Springs, CO. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Colorado Springs, CO, 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 $86.0 in Colorado Springs, CO. 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 $3,042 in Colorado Springs, CO. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,365 in Bethesda, MD and $3,042 in Colorado Springs, CO. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Colorado Springs, CO. 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.