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 $3,315 per month in Bethesda, MD vs $3,044 in Colorado Springs, CO, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,792 per month in Bethesda, MD vs $4,227 in Colorado Springs, CO, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,270 per month in Bethesda, MD vs $5,410 in Colorado Springs, CO, rent included.

Bethesda, MD costs about 9% more than Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Bethesda, MD and Colorado Springs, CO sit above the global median – Bethesda, MD by 147%, Colorado Springs, CO by 127%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.18 $16.18

$20.21 $20.21

-19.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.3 $81.3

$86.5 $86.5

-5.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.83 $7.83

$9.96 $9.96

-21.39%

Cappuccino

$5.75 $5.75

$6.12 $6.12

-6.05%

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

$2.52 $2.52

$3.30 $3.30

-23.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.34 $2.34

0.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$6.09 $6.09

-1.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.76 $7.76

$6.98 $6.98

11.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.00 $1.00

18.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.62 $3.62

8.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$4.38 $4.38

-13.47%

Eggs

$4.41 $4.41

$5.66 $5.66

-22.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.70 $8.70

$15.17 $15.17

-42.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.95 $10.95

$14.72 $14.72

-25.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.83 $12.83

$18.57 $18.57

-30.91%

Apples (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$4.56 $4.56

-0.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.53 $1.53

-11.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$3.84 $3.84

8.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$4.87 $4.87

-14.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.64 $2.64

-17.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.61 $2.61

0.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.27 $2.27

-3.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.31 $2.31

-10.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.19 $14.19

$9.86 $9.86

43.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.77 $17.77

$18.71 $18.71

-5.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.26 $2.26

-21.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$3.84 $3.84

-18.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.36 $2.36

23.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.3 $98.3

$61.8 $61.8

59.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.15 $5.15

$2.52 $2.52

104.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.37 $1.37

2.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.05 $35.05

$25.05 $25.05

39.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$0.79 $0.79

5.06%

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

$22.9K $22.9K

$27.3K $27.3K

-16.11%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.3K $25.3K

0.78%

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

$245 $245

$192 $192

27.50%

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

$39.66 $39.66

$73.7 $73.7

-46.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.4 $85.4

$100 $100

-14.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$60.2 $60.2

137.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.29 $30.29

$30.27 $30.27

0.07%

Cinema Ticket

$14.89 $14.89

$14.76 $14.76

0.88%

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

$3,132 $3,132

$1,479 $1,479

111.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$64.4K $64.4K

$24.6K $24.6K

161.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.0 $69.0

$57.8 $57.8

19.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.2 $57.2

$36.99 $36.99

54.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.4 $98.4

$91.4 $91.4

7.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$99.2 $99.2

45.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,275 $2,275

$1,741 $1,741

30.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,881 $1,881

$1,593 $1,593

18.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,061 $4,061

$2,548 $2,548

59.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,163 $3,163

$2,310 $2,310

36.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,091 $6,091

$2,604 $2,604

133.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,432 $5,432

$2,464 $2,464

120.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,621 $8,621

$4,246 $4,246

103.03%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Colorado Springs, CO: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,275 in Bethesda, MD versus $1,741 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 103% 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 $81.0 in Bethesda, MD versus $87.0 in Colorado Springs, CO. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $368 vs $439 – making Bethesda, MD 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 9%, 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 $4,972 per month in Bethesda, MD and $4,566 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 $81.0 in Bethesda, MD and $87.0 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 $3,315 in Bethesda, MD and $3,044 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 $3,315 in Bethesda, MD and $3,044 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.