Bel Air, MD Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Bel Air, MD Summary

Cost of living in Bel Air research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Bel Air is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Maryland, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Bel Air is 112, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Bel Air is 1.1x higher than the national average.

  • Bel Air ranks as the #32 cheapest in Maryland out of 194.

  • Bel Air ranks as the #3,863 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Bel Air is $455,918.

  • The median income in Bel Air is $69,912.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
112
Bel Air's Overall Cost Of Living
1.1x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Bel Air, MD?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Bel Air has an overall cost of living index of 112, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Maryland, Bel Air has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Maryland's index of 121.

The standard of living in Bel Air ranks as #32 most affordable out of the 194 places we measured in Maryland. By definition, that implies Bel Air ranks as the #162 most expensive place in the Old Line State.

For more reading on life in Bel Air, check out:

32 out of 194
In Maryland
3,863 out of 6,489
In America

Bel Air Cost Of Living Vs. Maryland

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Bel Air. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Bel Air is 103.

  • The Groceries index in Bel Air is 107.

  • The Health index in Bel Air is 99.

  • The Housing index in Bel Air is 135.

  • The Transportation index in Bel Air is 101.

  • The Utilities index in Bel Air is 112.

Living Expense Bel Air Maryland National Average
Overall 112 121 100
Services 103 105 100
Groceries 107 107 100
Health 99 96 100
Housing 135 150 100
Transportation 101 99 100
Utilities 112 113 100
For more reading on cost of living around Maryland, check out:
Bel Air Cost of Living Vs. MD

Bel Air, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Bel Air is $455,918.

  • The Median Rent in Bel Air is $1,526.

  • The Median Income in Bel Air is $69,912.

  • The Home Value To Income in Bel Air is 6.5x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Bel Air is 0.26x.

Statistic Bel Air Maryland United States
Median Home Value $455,918 $427,628 $303,400
Median Rent $1,526 $1,662 $1,348
Median Income $69,912 $101,652 $78,538
Home Value To Income 6.5x 4.2x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.26x 0.2x 0.21x
$455,918
Median Home Value
$1,526
Median Rent
$69,912
Median Income

Bel Air, MD Costs By Category

Detailed Bel Air Services Costs Vs. Maryland

Item Bel Air Maryland
Shampoo $1.44 $1.28
Movie $13.69 $12.13
Bowling $23.03 $18
Haircut $28.33 $24.26
Beauty Salon $58.17 $45.56

Detailed Bel Air Groceries Costs Vs. Maryland

Item Bel Air Maryland
Ground Beef $6.23 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.39 $1.57
Milk $4.73 $4.67
Potatoes $5.46 $4.93
Pizza $13.24 $12.09
Beer $10.36 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.69 $3.7

Detailed Bel Air Health Costs Vs. Maryland

Item Bel Air Maryland
Optometrist $114.22 $125.68
Doctor $133.22 $135.78
Dentist $117.22 $113.29

Detailed Bel Air Transportation Costs Vs. Maryland

Item Bel Air Maryland
Gasoline $3.46 $3.46
Tire Balancing $62.66 $59.92

Detailed Bel Air Utilities Costs Vs. Maryland

Item Bel Air Maryland
All Electricity $223.91 $193.99
Phone $199.62 $192.25

Bel Air SnackAbility

6
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
8.5
Affordability
4
Diversity
7
Safety
N/A
Amenities
9
Education
8
Commute
6

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