What is the cost of living in North Bethesda, MD?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, North Bethesda has an overall cost of living index of 163, which is 1.6x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Maryland, North Bethesda has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than Maryland's index of 121.
The standard of living in North Bethesda ranks as #184 most affordable out of the 195 places we measured in Maryland. By definition, that implies North Bethesda ranks as the #11 most expensive place in the Old Line State.
For more reading on life in North Bethesda, check out:
North Bethesda Cost Of Living Vs. Maryland
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in North Bethesda. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in North Bethesda is 108.
The Groceries index in North Bethesda is 107.
The Health index in North Bethesda is 286.
The Housing index in North Bethesda is 108.
The Transportation index in North Bethesda is 107.
The Utilities index in North Bethesda is 110.
| Living Expense | North Bethesda | Maryland | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 163 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 107 | 107 | 100 |
| Health | 286 | 152 | 100 |
| Housing | 108 | 109 | 100 |
| Transportation | 107 | 108 | 100 |
| Utilities | 110 | 109 | 100 |
North 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 North Bethesda Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
North 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 North Bethesda is $748,887.
The Median Rent in North Bethesda is $2,191.
The Median Income in North Bethesda is $129,092.
The Home Value To Income in North Bethesda is 5.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in North Bethesda is 0.2x.
| Statistic | North Bethesda | Maryland | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $748,887 | $429,704 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,191 | $1,705 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $129,092 | $103,678 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.8x | 4.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
North Bethesda, MD Costs By Category
Detailed North Bethesda Services costs vs. Maryland
| Item | North Bethesda | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.51 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.69 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.83 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.11 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $70.08 | $45.56 |
Detailed North Bethesda Groceries costs vs. Maryland
| Item | North Bethesda | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.24 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.4 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.78 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.49 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.56 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.1 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.81 | $3.7 |
Detailed North Bethesda Health costs vs. Maryland
| Item | North Bethesda | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $92.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $135.03 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.67 | $113.29 |
Detailed North Bethesda Transportation costs vs. Maryland
| Item | North Bethesda | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.25 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $59.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed North Bethesda Utilities costs vs. Maryland
| Item | North Bethesda | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $222.47 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $197.37 | $192.25 |
North Bethesda SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around North Bethesda
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around North Bethesda. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Bethesda, MD has a cost of living index of 204, 1.3x North Bethesda.
Rockville, MD has a cost of living index of 157, 1.0x North Bethesda.
Wheaton, MD has a cost of living index of 136, 0.8x North Bethesda.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. North Bethesda |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bethesda, MD | 69,397 | 204 | 1.3x |
| Rockville, MD | 67,671 | 157 | 1.0x |
| Wheaton, MD | 52,926 | 136 | 0.8x |
| Olney, MD | 35,797 | 153 | 0.9x |
| Clarksburg, MD | 30,487 | 156 | 1.0x |
| North Laurel, MD | 25,563 | 137 | 0.8x |
| North Potomac, MD | 23,922 | 176 | 1.1x |
| Colesville, MD | 14,519 | 145 | 0.9x |
| Kemp Mill, MD | 13,042 | 147 | 0.9x |
| Chevy Chase, MD | 9,445 | 257 | 1.6x |
