Cost of Living Comparison Between Bethesda, MD and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Bethesda, MD and Seattle, WA

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Bethesda, MD is 23.9% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 6.6% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Bethesda, MD is 9% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 17.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Bethesda, MD
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.37 $16.37
$25.11 $25.11
-34.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.4 $81.4
$118 $118
-31.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.18 $8.18
$13.84 $13.84
-40.90%
Cappuccino
$5.55 $5.55
$5.8 $5.8
-4.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.95 $2.95
-17.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 $2.24
$2.51 $2.51
-10.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.08 $6.08
$7.81 $7.81
-22.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.11 $8.11
$7.84 $7.84
3.44%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Bethesda, MD
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 $1.17
$1.34 $1.34
-12.69%
White Bread (500g)
$3.87 $3.87
$4.98 $4.98
-22.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.89 $3.89
$5.35 $5.35
-27.29%
Eggs
$4.38 $4.38
$6.91 $6.91
-36.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.56 $8.56
$24.8 $24.8
-65.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.66 $10.66
$15.74 $15.74
-32.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.85 $12.85
$20.84 $20.84
-38.34%
Apples (1kg)
$4.69 $4.69
$6.05 $6.05
-22.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.4 $1.4
$2.75 $2.75
-49.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.08 $4.08
$5.47 $5.47
-25.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.28 $4.28
$6.45 $6.45
-33.64%
Potato (1kg)
$2.14 $2.14
$3.11 $3.11
-31.19%
Onion (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$3.69 $3.69
-26.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.78 $2.78
-21.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.52 $2.52
-20.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.86 $13.86
$11.64 $11.64
19.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.08 $18.08
$17.15 $17.15
5.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.94 $2.94
-40.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 $3.27
$4.19 $4.19
-21.96%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Bethesda, MD
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.04 $3.04
$2.8 $2.8
8.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$98.3 $98.3
$101 $101
-2.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.9 $4.9
$2.68 $2.68
82.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.33 $1.33
$1.65 $1.65
-19.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.41 $34.41
$30.13 $30.13
14.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.16 $1.16
-25.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K $23.1K
$33.3K $33.3K
-30.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$26.3K $26.3K
-1.38%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bethesda, MD
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$247 $247
$271 $271
-8.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.27 $39.27
$61.8 $61.8
-36.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$82.8 $82.8
$75.2 $75.2
10.11%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Bethesda, MD
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$139 $139
$78.4 $78.4
76.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.22 $30.22
$41.04 $41.04
-26.36%
Cinema Ticket
$15.17 $15.17
$15.89 $15.89
-4.53%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Bethesda, MD
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,213 $3,213
$2,248 $2,248
42.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$65.2K $65.2K
$29K $29K
124.67%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Bethesda, MD
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.8 $68.8
$69.5 $69.5
-1.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.9 $56.9
$52.5 $52.5
8.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.1 $98.1
$120 $120
-17.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148 $148
$142 $142
3.97%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Bethesda, MD
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,284 $2,284
$2,376 $2,376
-3.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,841 $1,841
$1,829 $1,829
0.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,089 $4,089
$4,702 $4,702
-13.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,145 $3,145
$3,474 $3,474
-9.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,032 $6,032
$6,928 $6,928
-12.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,311 $5,311
$5,224 $5,224
1.66%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Bethesda, MD
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$8,504 $8,504
$6,473 $6,473
31.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.75
6.42
5.14%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bethesda, MD: October 28, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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