2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Berkeley, CA vs Bethesda, MD

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Bethesda or is it cheaper to live in Berkeley?
- Bethesda is 29.2% less expensive than Berkeley.

Which city has more affordable housing, Bethesda or Berkeley?
- Bethesda housing costs are 30.8% less expensive than Berkeley housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Berkeley or is Health Care more affordable in Bethesda.
- Health related expenses are 25.7% less in Bethesda.
 Berkeley, CABethesda, MDUnited States
 Overall  Unlock138.5100
 Food & Groceries114.0  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock86.8100
 Housing521.0  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,072,100$338,100
 Utilities91  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock128.8100
 Miscellaneous158.4  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Berkeley    14 Reviews

Have lived in Berkeley for about 35 years now. Housing/Real Estate: If you're looking to move here, $1,000,000 will get you a small cottage in the "flats". Most of  More

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Over 12 years ago

We have the best climate -- summers and winters are mild. Lots of  More

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Over 14 years ago

The 60's have left Berkeley and now it is about MONEY...and the people there have plenty of it and nice hybrid cars (looks like 2 per household) and with a great bicycle  More

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Reviews for Bethesda    12 Reviews

Bethesda is awesome if you want to live near DC and in a relatively safe city that has few parking issues. Montgomery county has parking lots in downtown Bethesda and  More

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Amenities are plentiful, but costs continue to rise as do local and state taxes. Overall not a friendly place to  More

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Essentially an upscale suburb of Washington DC. Public transport is easy, there's plenty to do (though with none of the edginess of living closer in DC) and it's minutes  More

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