Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Spokane, WA: $2,601 a month against $3,184 in Bethesda, MD, rent and utilities included – about $7,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

152

Cost of Living Index in Bethesda, MD
Learn more

Bethesda, MD Living Index
124

Cost of Living Index in Spokane, WA
Learn more

Spokane, WA Living Index

Jump to prices

Bethesda, MD

🇺🇸 United States

$3,184

/mo nomad

Spokane, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,601

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bethesda, MD and in Spokane, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bethesda, MD and in Spokane, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,184 per month in Bethesda, MD vs $2,601 in Spokane, WA, rent included.

Bethesda, MD $3,184
Spokane, WA $2,601

A couple spends around $4,988 per month in Bethesda, MD vs $3,839 in Spokane, WA, rent included.

Bethesda, MD $4,988
Spokane, WA $3,839

A family of three spends $6,792 per month in Bethesda, MD vs $5,076 in Spokane, WA, rent included.

Bethesda, MD $6,792
Spokane, WA $5,076

Bethesda, MD costs about 22% more than Spokane, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Bethesda, MD and Spokane, WA sit above the global median – Bethesda, MD by 134%, Spokane, WA by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.45 $22.45

$19.70 $19.70

13.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$74.9 $74.9

34.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.79 $10.79

$12.84 $12.84

-15.97%

Cappuccino

$5.39 $5.39

$5.01 $5.01

7.58%

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

$2.95 $2.95

$2.42 $2.42

21.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.19 $2.19

10.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.07 $7.07

$6.85 $6.85

3.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.77 $8.77

$6.18 $6.18

41.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$0.93 $0.93

30.11%

White Bread (500g)

$4.18 $4.18

$3.27 $3.27

27.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.94 $3.94

$4.68 $4.68

-15.81%

Eggs

$4.59 $4.59

$5.79 $5.79

-20.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.66 $16.66

$15.79 $15.79

5.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.83 $15.83

$13.56 $13.56

16.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.19 $23.19

$16.66 $16.66

39.20%

Apples (1kg)

$5.70 $5.70

$6.32 $6.32

-9.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.70 $1.70

-20.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.21 $4.21

$5.44 $5.44

-22.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.16 $4.16

$5.62 $5.62

-25.98%

Potato (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$3.13 $3.13

-28.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 $2.61

$3.08 $3.08

-15.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.06 $2.06

14.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.84 $1.84

33.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$12.07 $12.07

-21.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.13 $18.13

$14.24 $14.24

27.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.85 $1.85

-8.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 $2.91

$4.81 $4.81

-39.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.02 $3.02

$1.95 $1.95

54.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$102 $102

$60.7 $60.7

67.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.99 $3.99

$5.11 $5.11

-21.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.71 $1.71

-25.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.51 $24.51

$39.78 $39.78

-38.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.36 $1.36

-33.09%

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

$23.0K $23.0K

$27.8K $27.8K

-17.29%

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

$24.0K $24.0K

$27.1K $27.1K

-11.29%

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

$162 $162

$174 $174

-7.15%

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

$38.86 $38.86

$75.8 $75.8

-48.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$73.9 $73.9

-17.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$106 $106

$44.38 $44.38

138.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.35 $30.35

$14.84 $14.84

104.51%

Cinema Ticket

$16.29 $16.29

$16.13 $16.13

0.99%

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

$1,830 $1,830

$1,403 $1,403

30.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$35.4K $35.4K

$21.4K $21.4K

65.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 $54.3

$52.4 $52.4

3.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.2 $56.2

$49.55 $49.55

13.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$116 $116

-12.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$152 $152

$144 $144

5.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 $2,260

$1,625 $1,625

39.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,683 $1,683

$1,200 $1,200

40.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,962 $3,962

$3,093 $3,093

28.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,285 $3,285

$1,950 $1,950

68.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,989 $5,989

$3,290 $3,290

82.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,359 $5,359

$2,276 $2,276

135.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,610 $8,610

$4,440 $4,440

93.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

6.76

0.44%

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

Last update for Bethesda, MD: October 25, 2026

Last update for Spokane, WA: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Bethesda, MD

$1.7K 52.9%

Spokane, WA

$1.2K 46.1% 28.7% $484

Groceries & Markets

Bethesda, MD

$462 14.5%

Spokane, WA

$434 16.7% 6.1% $28

Eating Out

Bethesda, MD

$351 11%

Spokane, WA

$321 12.4% 8.4% $30

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Bethesda, MD

$262 8.2%

Spokane, WA

$324 12.5% 23.8% $62

Clothing & Footwear

Bethesda, MD

$164 5.1%

Spokane, WA

$163 6.3% 0.5% $0.8

Sport & Entertainment

Bethesda, MD

$138 4.3%

Spokane, WA

$77 3% 44.6% $62

Getting Around

Bethesda, MD

$124 3.9%

Spokane, WA

$82 3.2% 33.8% $42

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,260 in Bethesda, MD versus $1,625 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 94% higher in Bethesda, MD. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Bethesda, MD versus $75 in Spokane, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $462 vs $434 – making Spokane, WA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Bethesda, MD

🇺🇸 Spokane, WA

🕒 Local time

19:13 7:13 PM

16:13 4:13 PM

3 h behind Bethesda, MD

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

60,858

228,989

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Bethesda, MD Spokane, WA 3,360 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Bethesda, MD
Spokane, WA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 22%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in leisure.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,777 per month in Bethesda, MD and $3,901 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,625 there versus $2,260 in Bethesda, MD.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Bethesda, MD and $75 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 $3,184 in Bethesda, MD and $2,601 in Spokane, WA. That makes Spokane, WA about 18% cheaper.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Spokane, WA, where all-in costs run around $2,601, than in Bethesda, MD at $3,184. In Spokane, WA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bethesda, MD it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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 or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bethesda, MD makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.