Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Bethesda, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Bethesda, MD

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,503 per month in New York, NY vs $3,315 in Bethesda, MD, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,077 per month in New York, NY vs $4,792 in Bethesda, MD, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,650 per month in New York, NY vs $6,270 in Bethesda, MD, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 36% more than Bethesda, MD, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and Bethesda, MD sit above the global median – New York, NY by 236%, Bethesda, MD by 147%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.28 $30.28

$16.18 $16.18

87.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$81.3 $81.3

74.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.65 $12.65

$7.83 $7.83

61.56%

Cappuccino

$5.81 $5.81

$5.75 $5.75

1.04%

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

$3.26 $3.26

$2.52 $2.52

29.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.35 $2.35

9.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$5.98 $5.98

36.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.82 $11.82

$7.76 $7.76

52.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.18 $1.18

29.66%

White Bread (500g)

$5.27 $5.27

$3.91 $3.91

34.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.34 $8.34

$3.79 $3.79

120.05%

Eggs

$7.25 $7.25

$4.41 $4.41

64.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 $17.29

$8.70 $8.70

98.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.21 $16.21

$10.95 $10.95

48.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.82 $19.82

$12.83 $12.83

54.48%

Apples (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

$4.52 $4.52

67.48%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.36 $1.36

77.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 $5.83

$4.18 $4.18

39.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.17 $4.17

53.24%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$2.19 $2.19

76.71%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$2.62 $2.62

54.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.20 $2.20

41.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.06 $2.06

18.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.26 $19.26

$14.19 $14.19

35.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.96 $19.96

$17.77 $17.77

12.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.77 $1.77

68.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.13 $3.13

19.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.92 $2.92

-2.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

$98.3 $98.3

36.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$5.15 $5.15

-0.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.40 $1.40

50.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.31 $42.31

$35.05 $35.05

20.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.83 $0.83

16.87%

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

$34.7K $34.7K

$22.9K $22.9K

51.78%

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

$27.8K $27.8K

$25.5K $25.5K

8.89%

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

$181 $181

$245 $245

-26.00%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$39.66 $39.66

51.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 $62.5

$85.4 $85.4

-26.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

0.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.3 $65.3

$30.29 $30.29

115.45%

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$14.89 $14.89

34.18%

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

$3,216 $3,216

$3,132 $3,132

2.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.2K $57.2K

$64.4K $64.4K

-11.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$69.0 $69.0

-2.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.68 $47.68

$57.2 $57.2

-16.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$98.4 $98.4

13.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 $169

$145 $145

16.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,092 $4,092

$2,275 $2,275

79.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,694 $2,694

$1,881 $1,881

43.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,445 $8,445

$4,061 $4,061

107.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,128 $5,128

$3,163 $3,163

62.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K $18.2K

$6,091 $6,091

198.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,299 $6,299

$5,432 $5,432

15.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,540 $5,540

$8,621 $8,621

-35.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.75

-4.59%

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

Last update for New York, NY: June 1, 2026

Last update for Bethesda, MD: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,092 in New York, NY versus $2,275 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 56% higher in Bethesda, MD, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $142 in New York, NY versus $81.0 in Bethesda, MD. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $554 vs $368 – 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

New York, NY vs Bethesda, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – New York, NY is pricier by about 36%, 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 $6,754 per month in New York, NY and $4,972 in Bethesda, MD. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bethesda, MD, 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 $142 in New York, NY and $81.0 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 $4,503 in New York, NY and $3,315 in Bethesda, MD. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,503 in New York, NY and $3,315 in Bethesda, MD. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Bethesda, MD – 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 Bethesda, MD. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, New York, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.