Cost of Living Comparison Between Bethesda, MD and Baltimore, MD 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Baltimore, MD is 1.2% higher than in Bethesda, MD (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Baltimore, MD is 13.3% lower than in Bethesda, MD | |
| Rent Prices in Baltimore, MD are 36.9% lower than in Bethesda, MD | |
| Restaurant Prices in Baltimore, MD are 10.1% higher than in Bethesda, MD | |
| Groceries Prices in Baltimore, MD are 5.0% lower than in Bethesda, MD | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Baltimore, MD is 43.1% lower than in Bethesda, MD | |
Restaurants | Bethesda, MD Edit |
Baltimore, MD Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | $18.00 | $19.00 | +5.6 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | $75.00 | $90.50 | +20.7 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | $10.00 | $10.79 | +7.9 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | $5.50 | $7.00 | +27.3 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | $8.00 | $8.00 | 0.0 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | $5.33 | $5.19 | -2.7 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | $2.75 | $3.31 | +20.3 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | $2.40 | $2.75 | +14.7 % |
Markets | Bethesda, MD Edit |
Baltimore, MD Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | $1.08 | $1.09 | +0.8 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | $3.84 | $3.57 | -7.0 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | $2.00 | $2.09 | +4.0 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | $5.25 | $4.49 | -14.5 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | $7.65 | $5.85 | -23.5 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | $7.40 | $5.44 | -26.6 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | $10.48 | $8.02 | -23.4 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | $2.14 | $2.62 | +22.6 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | $0.63 | $0.71 | +12.8 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | $1.86 | $2.73 | +46.3 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | $1.90 | $2.35 | +23.4 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | $0.99 | $1.22 | +23.3 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | $1.22 | $1.28 | +4.5 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | $2.33 | $2.53 | +8.4 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | $2.50 | $2.34 | -6.4 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | $18.00 | $15.00 | -16.7 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | $1.73 | $2.60 | +50.2 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | $3.20 | $3.86 | +20.7 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | $15.00 | $14.17 | -5.5 % |
Transportation | Bethesda, MD Edit |
Baltimore, MD Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | $3.00 | $2.00 | -33.3 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | $100.00 | $77.00 | -23.0 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | $3.00 | $1.80 | -40.0 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | $2.33 | $2.21 | -5.1 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | $35.00 | $24.00 | -31.4 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | $0.91 | $0.92 | +1.4 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | $23,000.00 | $36,570.00 | +59.0 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | $25,500.00 | $25,684.04 | +0.7 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Bethesda, MD Edit |
Baltimore, MD Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | $103.63 | $218.02 | +110.4 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | $39.00 | $76.41 | +95.9 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | $60.83 | $89.48 | +47.1 % |
Sports And Leisure | Bethesda, MD Edit |
Baltimore, MD Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | $104.00 | $50.88 | -51.1 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | $30.00 | $47.61 | +58.7 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | $16.00 | $15.00 | -6.2 % |
Childcare | Bethesda, MD Edit |
Baltimore, MD Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | $3,175.00 | $1,925.56 | -39.4 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | $32,326.67 | $34,903.57 | +8.0 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Bethesda, MD Edit |
Baltimore, MD Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | $70.00 | $55.37 | -20.9 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | $56.67 | $63.14 | +11.4 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | $83.75 | $91.07 | +8.7 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | $130.00 | $111.15 | -14.5 % |
Rent Per Month | Bethesda, MD Edit |
Baltimore, MD Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | $2,300.00 | $1,764.00 | -23.3 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | $1,866.67 | $1,093.33 | -41.4 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | $4,040.00 | $2,346.36 | -41.9 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | $3,166.67 | $1,975.56 | -37.6 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Bethesda, MD Edit |
Baltimore, MD Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | $555.00 | $232.17 | -58.2 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | $499.74 | $215.80 | -56.8 % |
Salaries And Financing | Bethesda, MD Edit |
Baltimore, MD Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | $8,644.00 | $4,269.29 | -50.6 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.30 | 6.26 | -0.7 % |
| Last update: | 5 June 2026 | 12 June 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 9 | 40 | |
Moving to Bethesda, MD? Explore:
Moving to Baltimore, MD? Explore:
Cities near Bethesda, MD: | Cost of Living in Chevy Chase, Maryland | 2.89 miles |
| Cost of Living in Silver Spring, Maryland | 7.12 miles |
| Cost of Living in Washington, District of Columbia | 8.89 miles |
| Cost of Living in Rockville, Maryland | 9.85 miles |
| Cost of Living in Hyattsville, Maryland | 12.82 miles |
| Cost of Living in Arlington, Virginia | 13.09 miles |
| Cost of Living in College Park, Maryland | 13.22 miles |
| Cost of Living in Alexandria, Virginia | 15.32 miles |
| Cost of Living in Reston, Virginia | 16.99 miles |
| Cost of Living in Fairfax, Virginia | 18.60 miles |
Cities near Baltimore, MD: | Cost of Living in Chevy Chase, Maryland | 37.19 miles |
| Cost of Living in Rockville, Maryland | 37.49 miles |
| Cost of Living in Washington, District of Columbia | 38.98 miles |
| Cost of Living in Arlington, Virginia | 43.11 miles |
| Cost of Living in Germantown, Maryland | 48.57 miles |
| Cost of Living in Springfield, Virginia | 52.13 miles |
| Cost of Living in Herndon, Virginia | 57.71 miles |
| Cost of Living in Lancaster, Pennsylvania | 76.62 miles |
| Cost of Living in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | 79.41 miles |
| Cost of Living in Lexington Park, Maryland | 88.39 miles |