Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Bethesda, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Bethesda, MD

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 14% more expensive than Bethesda, MD without rent, and 11.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 5.6% cheaper than Bethesda, MD without rent, and 1.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Bethesda, MD
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$16.37 $16.37
27.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$81.4 $81.4
23.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$8.18 $8.18
46.33%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.55 $5.55
0.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.43 $2.43
27.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.24 $2.24
8.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.08 $6.08
12.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.11 $8.11
4.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Bethesda, MD
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.17 $1.17
-11.11%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.87 $3.87
7.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.89 $3.89
41.90%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.38 $4.38
6.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$8.56 $8.56
67.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.66 $10.66
39.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$12.85 $12.85
50.51%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.69 $4.69
10.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.4 $1.4
22.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.08 $4.08
8.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.28 $4.28
5.37%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.14 $2.14
18.22%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.72 $2.72
0.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.19 $2.19
10.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.01 $2.01
34.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$13.86 $13.86
9.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$18.08 $18.08
-9.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.76 $1.76
33.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.27 $3.27
13.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Bethesda, MD
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.04 $3.04
-16.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$98.3 $98.3
-24.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.9 $4.9
-31.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.33 $1.33
6.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$34.41 $34.41
-26.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.86 $0.86
25.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$23.1K $23.1K
40.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.9K $25.9K
1.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Bethesda, MD
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$247 $247
-23.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$39.27 $39.27
62.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$82.8 $82.8
-21.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Bethesda, MD
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$139 $139
-44.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$30.22 $30.22
-56.88%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$15.17 $15.17
-1.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Bethesda, MD
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$3,213 $3,213
-35.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$65.2K $65.2K
-39.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Bethesda, MD
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$68.8 $68.8
-6.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$56.9 $56.9
-7.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$98.1 $98.1
-2.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$148 $148
-2.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Bethesda, MD
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,284 $2,284
4.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,841 $1,841
-13.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$4,089 $4,089
16.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$3,145 $3,145
-10.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$6,032 $6,032
-40.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$5,311 $5,311
-53.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Bethesda, MD
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$8,504 $8,504
-37.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.75
-2.22%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Bethesda, MD: October 28, 2025

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