Rents are 3% below what Bel Air's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,085 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in Bel Air usually run 1.3% below trend in December and 1% above it in June, about $48 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.
Rent in Bel Air is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2021.
Rent in Bel Air changed +4.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 81 Maryland cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.4%.
Rent has risen 8 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($74,605) is $1,865 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,630); a 2-bedroom is $1,995.
Edgewood, 7 miles away, rents for 16% less ($1,750/mo), about $4,000 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Bel Air. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Bel Air, MD is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 43% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Bel Air, MD has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Bel Air, MD paid around $1,617 a month. That figure now sits near $2,085, up 28.9% from the 2021 baseline. On the earnings side, the typical household in Bel Air, MD now reports about $74,605, up from $64,036 in 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 37.3% to 43% across the same window. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Bel Air, MD reflects that arc in its own way.
Discussions about Bel Air
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Bel Air on your salary?
At $2,085/mo, how Bel Air rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Bel Air rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Bel Air. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Bel Air
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Bel Air is $2,085/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,430/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,995/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,630/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,570/mo.
At 34% of local median household income ($74,605/yr), Bel Air ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Bel Air?
Is rent going up or down in Bel Air?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Bel Air?
Which Bel Air neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Bel Air rent compare to other cities in Maryland?
At $2,085/mo, rent takes ~34% of Bel Air's median household income ($74,605/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Bel Air.
No discussions yet.