Cost of Living in Bel Air, MD
Population 10,616 · Maryland · Data vintage 2023
(100 = US avg)
Bel Air is a smaller Maryland community of around 11000 residents, where median household incomes of $69,912 and housing costs ($297,000 for a typical home) give the local cost-of-living profile a distinctly small-town shape.
Bel Air sits roughly 20 miles northeast of Baltimore — close enough that regional housing and labor patterns are shaped largely by the larger market. Median home values run roughly 36% higher than Baltimore's $219,000.
Cost Overview
Scale: 100 = US national average. Green < 90, Red > 110.
About the Cost of Living in Bel Air
The median home value in Bel Air is $297,400 — 2% below the national median of $305,000. Median rent runs $1,526/month, 16% higher than the national median of $1,314/month. The median household income of $69,912/year is 6% lower than the US median of $74,580. The local unemployment rate is 4.1%, below the national average of 4.8%. Maryland's top state income tax rate is 5.8% and the combined sales tax is 6.0%. Overall, Bel Air has a cost of living index of 105 versus the US average of 100, meaning it is 5% more expensive.
🏠 Housing
HUD Fair Market Rents by Bedroom
💰 Estimated Monthly Budget
Estimates based on median data and national averages. Actual costs vary.
🛒 Food & Groceries
National BLS average prices (2023). Local prices may vary.
🚗 Transportation
Commute Mode
⚡ Utilities
📋 Taxes
💼 Income & Employment
🎓 Education
👥 Demographics
💨 Air Quality
EPA AQS 2023 — county-level monitoring data
🏫 Schools
NCES CCD 2019 — public school district data
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Bel Air, MD?
Bel Air has a cost index of 105 (100 = national average). It is 5% above the national average.
What is average rent in Bel Air, MD?
The median gross rent in Bel Air is $1,526 per month based on 2023 Census data.
What is the average home price in Bel Air?
The median home value in Bel Air is $297,400 according to Zillow and Census data.
What is the median income in Bel Air?
The median household income in Bel Air is $69,912 per year (2023 ACS 5-year estimates).
What is the sales tax in Bel Air, MD?
The combined state and local sales tax rate in Bel Air is 6.0%. The Maryland state income tax top rate is 5.8%.
Is Bel Air, MD affordable?
Bel Air is near the national average in terms of cost of living, with an index of 105 (100 = US average).
Bel Air at a Glance
- Population
- 10,616
- Median Income
- $69,912
- Home Value
- $297,400
- Median Rent
- $1,526/mo
- Unemployment
- 4.1%
- Sales Tax
- 6.0%
Nearby Cities
Explore county-level cost of living data
Maryland Rankings
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