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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,377 per month in Bethesda, MD vs $3,369 in Shoreline, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,921 per month in Bethesda, MD vs $4,503 in Shoreline, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,466 per month in Bethesda, MD vs $5,636 in Shoreline, WA, rent included.

Bethesda, MD and Shoreline, WA have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Bethesda, MD and Shoreline, WA sit above the global median – Bethesda, MD by 153%, Shoreline, WA by 152%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.42 $16.42

$20.16 $20.16

-18.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.9 $79.9

$51.0 $51.0

56.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.20 $8.20

$12.65 $12.65

-35.18%

Cappuccino

$5.83 $5.83

$5.91 $5.91

-1.35%

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

$2.52 $2.52

$2.55 $2.55

-1.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.02 $2.02

16.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.93 $5.93

$6.89 $6.89

-13.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.82 $7.82

$8.80 $8.80

-11.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.07 $1.07

10.28%

White Bread (500g)

$3.93 $3.93

$3.95 $3.95

-0.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.76 $3.76

$2.86 $2.86

31.47%

Eggs

$4.23 $4.23

$5.19 $5.19

-18.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.97 $8.97

$14.76 $14.76

-39.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.87 $10.87

$15.44 $15.44

-29.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.70 $12.70

$15.31 $15.31

-17.05%

Apples (1kg)

$4.60 $4.60

$5.00 $5.00

-8.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.93 $1.93

-30.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.00 $4.00

$4.90 $4.90

-18.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.30 $4.30

$3.69 $3.69

16.53%

Potato (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.23 $2.23

-4.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.65 $2.65

$3.33 $3.33

-20.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.54 $2.54

-13.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 $2.00

$1.02 $1.02

96.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.22 $14.22

$10.04 $10.04

41.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.84 $17.84

$15.09 $15.09

18.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.10 $2.10

-16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.43 $3.43

-8.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.58 $2.58

13.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$100.0 $100.0

0.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$3.42 $3.42

49.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.60 $1.60

-15.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.79 $34.79

$29.01 $29.01

19.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.20 $1.20

-32.50%

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

$23.1K $23.1K

$29.6K $29.6K

-21.97%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$25.9K $25.9K

-0.66%

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

$252 $252

$154 $154

63.68%

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

$38.46 $38.46

$53.0 $53.0

-27.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.8 $84.8

$68.9 $68.9

22.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$139 $139

$81.0 $81.0

71.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.59 $29.59

Cinema Ticket

$14.91 $14.91

$16.77 $16.77

-11.09%

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

$3,194 $3,194

$2,155 $2,155

48.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$65.5K $65.5K

$30.6K $30.6K

114.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.2 $70.2

$61.1 $61.1

14.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.6 $57.6

$37.18 $37.18

54.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.7 $95.7

$99.0 $99.0

-3.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 $149

$113 $113

32.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,252 $2,252

$1,730 $1,730

30.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,859 $1,859

$1,930 $1,930

-3.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,011 $4,011

$2,903 $2,903

38.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,110 $3,110

$2,690 $2,690

15.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,941 $5,941

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,396 $5,396

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,537 $8,537

$6,220 $6,220

37.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

6.61

2.12%

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

Last update for Bethesda, MD: July 13, 2026

Last update for Shoreline, WA: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,252 in Bethesda, MD versus $1,730 in Shoreline, 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 37% higher in Bethesda, MD. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Bethesda, MD versus $51.0 in Shoreline, WA. Groceries tell a different story – $366 in Bethesda, MD vs $408 in Shoreline, WA – 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 Shoreline, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,066 per month in Bethesda, MD and $5,054 in Shoreline, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Shoreline, WA, 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 $80.0 in Bethesda, MD and $51.0 in Shoreline, WA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Public transport costs about 0% less in Shoreline, WA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,377 in Bethesda, MD and $3,369 in Shoreline, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Shoreline, WA – 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 Shoreline, WA. 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.