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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 31.4% more expensive than Bethesda, MD without rent, and 7% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 9.8% more expensive than Bethesda, MD without rent, and 20.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Bethesda, MD
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.11 $25.11
$16.37 $16.37
53.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$81.4 $81.4
45.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.84 $13.84
$8.18 $8.18
69.19%
Cappuccino
$5.8 $5.8
$5.55 $5.55
4.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$2.43 $2.43
21.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.24 $2.24
12.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 $7.81
$6.08 $6.08
28.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84 $7.84
$8.11 $8.11
-3.33%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Bethesda, MD
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.17 $1.17
14.53%
White Bread (500g)
$4.98 $4.98
$3.87 $3.87
28.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$3.89 $3.89
37.53%
Eggs
$6.91 $6.91
$4.38 $4.38
57.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.8 $24.8
$8.56 $8.56
189.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.74 $15.74
$10.66 $10.66
47.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.84 $20.84
$12.85 $12.85
62.18%
Apples (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$4.69 $4.69
29.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$1.4 $1.4
96.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$4.08 $4.08
34.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.45 $6.45
$4.28 $4.28
50.70%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.14 $2.14
45.33%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$2.72 $2.72
35.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.19 $2.19
26.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.01 $2.01
25.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64 $11.64
$13.86 $13.86
-16.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.15 $17.15
$18.08 $18.08
-5.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$1.76 $1.76
67.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$3.27 $3.27
28.13%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Bethesda, MD
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.8 $2.8
$3.04 $3.04
-7.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 $101
$98.3 $98.3
2.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 $2.68
$4.9 $4.9
-45.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.33 $1.33
24.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.13 $30.13
$34.41 $34.41
-12.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$0.86 $0.86
34.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3K $33.3K
$23.1K $23.1K
44.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$25.9K $25.9K
1.40%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Bethesda, MD
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 $271
$247 $247
9.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$39.27 $39.27
57.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.2 $75.2
$82.8 $82.8
-9.18%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Bethesda, MD
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.4 $78.4
$139 $139
-43.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.04 $41.04
$30.22 $30.22
35.80%
Cinema Ticket
$15.89 $15.89
$15.17 $15.17
4.75%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Bethesda, MD
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,248 $2,248
$3,213 $3,213
-30.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29K $29K
$65.2K $65.2K
-55.49%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Bethesda, MD
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5 $69.5
$68.8 $68.8
1.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 $52.5
$56.9 $56.9
-7.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$98.1 $98.1
21.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$148 $148
-3.82%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Bethesda, MD
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,376 $2,376
$2,284 $2,284
4.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,829 $1,829
$1,841 $1,841
-0.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,702 $4,702
$4,089 $4,089
14.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,474 $3,474
$3,145 $3,145
10.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,928 $6,928
$6,032 $6,032
14.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,224 $5,224
$5,311 $5,311
-1.63%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Bethesda, MD
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,473 $6,473
$8,504 $8,504
-23.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.75
-4.89%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Bethesda, MD: October 28, 2025

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