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 118, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Maryland, Bel Air has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Maryland's index of 121.
The standard of living in Bel Air ranks as #49 most affordable out of the 195 places we measured in Maryland. By definition, that implies Bel Air ranks as the #146 most expensive place in the Old Line State.
For more reading on life in Bel Air, check out:
Bel Air Cost Of Living Vs. Maryland
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Bel Air. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Bel Air is 100.
The Groceries index in Bel Air is 109.
The Health index in Bel Air is 141.
The Housing index in Bel Air is 104.
The Transportation index in Bel Air is 109.
The Utilities index in Bel Air is 111.
| Living Expense | Bel Air | Maryland | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 118 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 109 | 107 | 100 |
| Health | 141 | 152 | 100 |
| Housing | 104 | 109 | 100 |
| Transportation | 109 | 108 | 100 |
| Utilities | 111 | 109 | 100 |
Bel Air 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 Bel Air Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Bel Air is $461,262.
The Median Rent in Bel Air is $1,492.
The Median Income in Bel Air is $74,605.
The Home Value To Income in Bel Air is 6.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Bel Air is 0.24x.
