2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Bethesda, MD vs Waukegan, IL

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Waukegan or is it cheaper to live in Bethesda?
- Waukegan is 30.0% less expensive than Bethesda.

Which city has more affordable housing, Waukegan or Bethesda?
- Waukegan housing costs are 83.9% less expensive than Bethesda housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Bethesda or is Health Care more affordable in Waukegan.
- Health related expenses are 10.9% more in Waukegan.
 Bethesda, MDWaukegan, ILUnited States
 Overall  Unlock97.0100
 Food & Groceries118.3  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock96.3100
 Housing360.4  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$181,800$338,100
 Utilities109  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock86.9100
 Miscellaneous146.7  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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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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Reviews for Waukegan    3 Reviews

Great people, beautifully diverse. All live and work together to provide the best for all residents. Lake County College is completing a 40 million dollar building  More

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Over 12 years ago

We're looking for a moderate climate. Waukegan is on Lake Michigan and could have a dynamic vibrant downtown but it doesn't. Great master plan if somehow Waukegan can  More

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Over 17 years ago

I have been living in north east waukegan for 12 years and I am excited by the recent surge of growth in the downtown area. Thanks to the Genesee theater, there are  More

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