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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,068 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,377 in Bethesda, MD, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,648 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,921 in Bethesda, MD, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,229 per month in Chicago, IL vs $6,466 in Bethesda, MD, rent included.

Chicago, IL is about 9% cheaper than Bethesda, MD, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Bethesda, MD sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Bethesda, MD by 153%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$16.42 $16.42

22.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$79.9 $79.9

24.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$8.20 $8.20

49.15%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.83 $5.83

-3.95%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$2.52 $2.52

23.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.36 $2.36

2.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$5.93 $5.93

16.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$7.82 $7.82

4.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.18 $1.18

-8.47%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.93 $3.93

1.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$3.76 $3.76

48.40%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$4.23 $4.23

5.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$8.97 $8.97

61.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$10.87 $10.87

38.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$12.70 $12.70

52.28%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$4.60 $4.60

16.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.35 $1.35

30.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.00 $4.00

8.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.30 $4.30

2.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.13 $2.13

19.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.65 $2.65

1.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.20 $2.20

13.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.00 $2.00

30.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$14.22 $14.22

4.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$17.84 $17.84

-14.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.75 $1.75

41.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$3.15 $3.15

14.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.92 $2.92

-13.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

$100 $100

-24.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$5.11 $5.11

-35.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.36 $1.36

1.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$34.79 $34.79

-27.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.81 $0.81

34.57%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$23.1K $23.1K

36.81%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$25.7K $25.7K

3.27%

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

$186 $186

$252 $252

-26.07%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$38.46 $38.46

63.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$84.8 $84.8

-21.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$139 $139

-44.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

$29.59 $29.59

-55.53%

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$14.91 $14.91

-1.14%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$3,194 $3,194

-36.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$65.5K $65.5K

-39.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$70.2 $70.2

-9.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$57.6 $57.6

-11.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$95.7 $95.7

-0.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$149 $149

-3.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$2,252 $2,252

2.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$1,859 $1,859

-15.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$4,011 $4,011

16.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$3,110 $3,110

-11.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

$5,941 $5,941

-31.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

$5,396 $5,396

-50.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$8,537 $8,537

-41.21%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Bethesda, MD: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $2,252 in Bethesda, MD. 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 70% 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $80.0 in Bethesda, MD. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $448 vs $366 – 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

Chicago, IL vs Bethesda, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Bethesda, MD is pricier by about 10%, 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 $4,602 per month in Chicago, IL and $5,066 in Bethesda, MD. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chicago, IL, 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL and $80.0 in Bethesda, MD. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,068 in Chicago, IL and $3,377 in Bethesda, MD. 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 $3,068 in Chicago, IL and $3,377 in Bethesda, MD. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Chicago, IL – 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 Chicago, IL. 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.