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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,347 per month in Bethesda, MD vs $3,583 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,922 per month in Bethesda, MD vs $5,632 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,496 per month in Bethesda, MD vs $7,681 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Bethesda, MD is about 7% cheaper than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bethesda, MD and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Bethesda, MD by 150%, Seattle, WA by 168%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.26 $16.26

$24.97 $24.97

-34.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.6 $80.6

$119 $119

-32.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.04 $8.04

$13.90 $13.90

-42.16%

Cappuccino

$5.83 $5.83

$5.56 $5.56

4.86%

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

$2.43 $2.43

$3.06 $3.06

-20.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.47 $2.47

-8.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.15 $6.15

$7.96 $7.96

-22.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 $8.02

$8.01 $8.01

0.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.34 $1.34

-12.69%

White Bread (500g)

$3.90 $3.90

$5.05 $5.05

-22.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$5.36 $5.36

-29.29%

Eggs

$4.28 $4.28

$6.59 $6.59

-35.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.99 $8.99

$25.31 $25.31

-64.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.66 $10.66

$16.19 $16.19

-34.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.56 $12.56

$20.30 $20.30

-38.13%

Apples (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$5.97 $5.97

-25.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 $1.35

$2.74 $2.74

-50.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$5.36 $5.36

-22.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.15 $4.15

$6.61 $6.61

-37.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$3.25 $3.25

-32.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.79 $3.79

-27.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.73 $2.73

-17.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.53 $2.53

-20.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.21 $14.21

$11.31 $11.31

25.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.85 $17.85

$16.28 $16.28

9.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.85 $2.85

-37.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 $3.22

$4.16 $4.16

-22.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.69 $2.69

13.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$102 $102

$97.1 $97.1

5.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.97 $4.97

$2.71 $2.71

83.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.73 $1.73

-19.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.70 $34.70

$29.46 $29.46

17.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.20 $1.20

-27.50%

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

$23.2K $23.2K

$33.6K $33.6K

-30.96%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$26.0K $26.0K

-2.94%

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

$248 $248

$266 $266

-6.92%

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

$39.28 $39.28

$60.4 $60.4

-35.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$82.9 $82.9

$76.2 $76.2

8.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$142 $142

$79.2 $79.2

79.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.54 $30.54

$40.51 $40.51

-24.61%

Cinema Ticket

$15.11 $15.11

$16.22 $16.22

-6.84%

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

$3,114 $3,114

$2,280 $2,280

36.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$65.6K $65.6K

$29.6K $29.6K

121.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$69.6 $69.6

-0.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.1 $57.1

$52.6 $52.6

8.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.3 $95.3

$120 $120

-20.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$143 $143

3.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,210 $2,210

$2,378 $2,378

-7.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,873 $1,873

$1,866 $1,866

0.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,089 $4,089

$4,724 $4,724

-13.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,170 $3,170

$3,510 $3,510

-9.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,042 $6,042

$7,711 $7,711

-21.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,385 $5,385

$5,381 $5,381

0.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,520 $8,520

$6,493 $6,493

31.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

6.42

5.14%

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

Last update for Bethesda, MD: April 27, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,210 in Bethesda, MD versus $2,378 in Seattle, WA. 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 31% higher in Bethesda, MD, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Bethesda, MD versus $119 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $365 vs $544 – 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 Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 7%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,021 per month in Bethesda, MD and $5,374 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bethesda, MD, 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 $119 in Seattle, WA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,347 in Bethesda, MD and $3,583 in Seattle, WA. 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 $3,347 in Bethesda, MD and $3,583 in Seattle, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Bethesda, MD – 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 Bethesda, MD. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.