| Index | Bethesda | Maryland | National |
| Cost of living | 203 | 121 | 100 |
| Groceries | 103 | 105 | 100 |
| Health care | 111 | 109 | 100 |
| Housing | 423 | 151 | 100 |
| Transportation | 114 | 109 | 100 |
| Utilities | 105 | 108 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 113 | 109 | 100 |
| Household Items | 106 | 105 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 116 | 112 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Bethesda allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Bethesda stands at 203, marking it 103% higher than the national average.
If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Bethesda is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Bethesda falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.
Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Bethesda, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 323.1% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.
Wondering if Bethesda is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Bethesda, for example, the median home price is 409.9% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 120.8% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Bethesda boasting a median household income of $254,596, which is 213% higher than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Bethesda, the groceries index registers 2.7% higher than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain cities or states may institute government subsidies or assistance programs designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with the cost of living for their residents. These programs encompass a variety of support mechanisms, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Areas that provide fewer subsidies may see an uptick in their overall cost of living.
Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Bethesda, healthcare costs are 11.2% higher than the national average.
The cost of living estimates displayed for Bethesda are modeled using a U.S. average baseline of 100, helping provide a useful comparison of local living expenses. Housing calculations include U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are AI-assisted estimates based on regional cost patterns, climate, transportation, and everyday spending expectations. These values are intended for directional comparisons across cities.
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| Groceries index | |
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| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $330,800 | $27,567 | $7,718 | $9,925 |
| Renters | $139,861 | $11,655 | $3,263 | $4,196 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Maryland | 6% | 6% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Maryland | 2% | 5.75% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Rose Hill CDP (Lee County), VA | 731 | 89 | 11.0% |
| Wakefield town, VA | 838 | 92 | 8.4% |
| Belle Haven town, VA | 578 | 99 | 1.4% |
| Cottage City, MD | 1,193 | 105 | 5.5% |
| Silver Hill, MD | 5,346 | 132 | 31.6% |
| Bethesda, MD | 66,466 | 203 | 103.4% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Port Coquitlam, BC | 66,485 | n/a | |
| Janesville, WI | 66,492 | 94 | 5.9% |
| Port Charlotte, FL | 66,383 | 103 | 3.5% |
| Lake Elsinore, CA | 66,354 | 139 | 39.1% |
| Ankeny, IA | 66,592 | 105 | 5.5% |
| Bethesda, MD | 66,466 | 203 | 103.4% |
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