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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,380 per month in Bethesda, MD vs $2,694 in Spokane, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,864 per month in Bethesda, MD vs $4,037 in Spokane, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,348 per month in Bethesda, MD vs $5,380 in Spokane, WA, rent included.

Bethesda, MD costs about 25% more than Spokane, WA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Bethesda, MD and Spokane, WA sit above the global median – Bethesda, MD by 152%, Spokane, WA by 100%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.82 $16.82

$24.05 $24.05

-30.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.9 $78.9

$73.8 $73.8

6.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.81 $7.81

$12.98 $12.98

-39.83%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$4.70 $4.70

19.79%

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

$2.44 $2.44

$2.39 $2.39

2.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.29 $2.29

-0.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.11 $6.11

$6.64 $6.64

-7.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.82 $7.82

$5.93 $5.93

31.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.98 $0.98

19.39%

White Bread (500g)

$4.07 $4.07

$2.95 $2.95

37.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$4.98 $4.98

-23.90%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$4.57 $4.57

-4.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.78 $8.78

$16.70 $16.70

-47.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.87 $10.87

$15.46 $15.46

-29.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.62 $12.62

$16.06 $16.06

-21.42%

Apples (1kg)

$4.66 $4.66

$4.65 $4.65

0.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.82 $1.82

-26.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.12 $4.12

$4.92 $4.92

-16.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$5.57 $5.57

-25.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.24 $2.24

$3.43 $3.43

-34.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.61 $2.61

0.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.98 $1.98

12.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.36 $2.36

-14.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.10 $14.10

$11.52 $11.52

22.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.88 $17.88

$14.26 $14.26

25.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.89 $1.89

-7.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 $3.16

$5.22 $5.22

-39.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.08 $3.08

$1.95 $1.95

57.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.6 $98.6

$59.8 $59.8

64.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.03 $5.03

$5.12 $5.12

-1.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.77 $1.77

-24.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.96 $34.96

$39.38 $39.38

-11.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.13 $1.13

-22.12%

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

$22.6K $22.6K

$33.9K $33.9K

-33.30%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$25.7K $25.7K

-1.84%

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

$251 $251

$162 $162

54.46%

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

$38.25 $38.25

$65.4 $65.4

-41.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.8 $83.8

$71.3 $71.3

17.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$138 $138

$44.73 $44.73

208.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.52 $29.52

$15.02 $15.02

96.54%

Cinema Ticket

$15.06 $15.06

$14.33 $14.33

5.09%

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

$3,209 $3,209

$1,428 $1,428

124.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$64.1K $64.1K

$16.1K $16.1K

298.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.0 $70.0

$53.1 $53.1

31.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.2 $57.2

$50.2 $50.2

13.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 $96.2

$115 $115

-16.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

-0.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,278 $2,278

$1,581 $1,581

44.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,873 $1,873

$1,308 $1,308

43.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,007 $4,007

$2,861 $2,861

40.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,164 $3,164

$2,224 $2,224

42.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,898 $5,898

$3,389 $3,389

74.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,286 $5,286

$2,329 $2,329

126.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,678 $8,678

$4,215 $4,215

105.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

6.64

1.66%

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

Last update for Bethesda, MD: June 7, 2026

Last update for Spokane, WA: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,278 in Bethesda, MD versus $1,581 in Spokane, 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 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 $79.0 in Bethesda, MD versus $74.0 in Spokane, WA. Groceries tell a different story – $368 in Bethesda, MD vs $435 in Spokane, 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 Spokane, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Bethesda, MD is pricier by about 25%, 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 $5,071 per month in Bethesda, MD and $4,040 in Spokane, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Spokane, 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 $79.0 in Bethesda, MD and $74.0 in Spokane, WA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,380 in Bethesda, MD and $2,694 in Spokane, WA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,380 in Bethesda, MD and $2,694 in Spokane, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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