What is the cost of living in Bethesda, MD?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Bethesda has an overall cost of living index of 204, which is 2.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Maryland, Bethesda has a cost of living index that's 1.7x higher than Maryland's index of 121.
The standard of living in Bethesda ranks as #193 most affordable out of the 195 places we measured in Maryland. By definition, that implies Bethesda ranks as the #2 most expensive place in the Old Line State.
For more reading on life in Bethesda, check out:
Bethesda Cost Of Living Vs. Maryland
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Bethesda. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Bethesda is 101.
The Groceries index in Bethesda is 111.
The Health index in Bethesda is 422.
The Housing index in Bethesda is 115.
The Transportation index in Bethesda is 103.
The Utilities index in Bethesda is 115.
| Living Expense | Bethesda | Maryland | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 204 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 111 | 107 | 100 |
| Health | 422 | 152 | 100 |
| Housing | 115 | 109 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 108 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 109 | 100 |
Bethesda Cost Of Living Compared To Maryland Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Maryland, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Bethesda Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Bethesda, MD Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Maryland, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Bethesda is $1,152,218.
The Median Rent in Bethesda is $2,469.
The Median Income in Bethesda is $192,237.
The Home Value To Income in Bethesda is 6.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Bethesda is 0.15x.
Bethesda, MD Costs By Category
Detailed Bethesda Services costs vs. Maryland
Detailed Bethesda Groceries costs vs. Maryland
Detailed Bethesda Health costs vs. Maryland
Detailed Bethesda Transportation costs vs. Maryland
Bethesda SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Bethesda
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Bethesda. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Olney, MD has a cost of living index of 153, 0.8x Bethesda.
Clarksburg, MD has a cost of living index of 156, 0.8x Bethesda.
North Laurel, MD has a cost of living index of 137, 0.7x Bethesda.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Bethesda |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olney, MD | 35,797 | 153 | 0.8x |
| Clarksburg, MD | 30,487 | 156 | 0.8x |
| North Laurel, MD | 25,563 | 137 | 0.7x |
| North Potomac, MD | 23,922 | 176 | 0.9x |
| Colesville, MD | 14,519 | 145 | 0.7x |
| Kemp Mill, MD | 13,042 | 147 | 0.7x |
| Chevy Chase, MD | 9,445 | 257 | 1.3x |
| Four Corners, MD | 8,150 | 154 | 0.8x |
| South Kensington, MD | 8,148 | 192 | 0.9x |
| Layhill, MD | 5,497 | 147 | 0.7x |
