Studio Rent · October 2026

Studio Apartment Rent in Bel Air, MD

$1,430/mo

Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Bel Air, Maryland as of October 2026. That's +31% lower than the citywide median of $2,085 and +11% above the national studio median of $1,290.

Studio median
$1,430
October 2026
vs city overall
-31%
$2,085 city median
vs national
+11%
$1,290 US median
Maryland rank
#35
of 90 cities

Income needed for a studio in Bel Air

Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a studio at the current median rent.

Annual income
$57,200
Monthly gross
$4,767
Hourly (full-time)
$27.50

Rent by apartment size in Bel Air

Compare Bel Air's median rent across every apartment size.

Studio (current)
$1,430
1-Bedroom
$1,630
2-Bedroom
$1,995
3-Bedroom
$2,570
4+ Bedroom
$2,870

Cheapest cities for a studio in Maryland

#CityStudio rent
1Cumberland$680
2Hagerstown$820
3Ocean City$880
4Salisbury$1,090
5Lochearn$1,168
6Easton$1,170
7Bladensburg$1,213
8Brooklyn Park$1,250
9Dundalk$1,250
10Essex$1,250
11Halethorpe$1,250
12Havre de Grace$1,250
13Westminster$1,250
14Aberdeen$1,270
15Rossville$1,270

Most expensive cities for a studio in Maryland

#CityStudio rent
1Potomac$3,020
2Bethesda$2,675
3New Market$2,530
4Lake Arbor$2,462
5Derwood$2,400
6Chevy Chase$2,370
7Rockville$2,297
8Clinton$2,270
9Brandywine$2,250
10Upper Marlboro$2,115
11Jessup$2,110
12Gambrills$2,100
13Kensington$2,080
14Hanover$2,050
15Bowie$2,022

Nearby cities — studio rent

Considering nearby alternatives? 5 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than Bel Air.

CityDistanceStudio rentvs Bel Air
Edgewood, MD7.5 mi$1,300$-130 (-9%)
Nottingham, MD15.3 mi$1,400$-30 (-2%)
Parkville, MD17.8 mi$1,340$-90 (-6%)
Rossville, MD18.2 mi$1,270$-160 (-11%)
Towson, MD21.4 mi$1,550+$120 (+8%)
Dundalk, MD22.3 mi$1,250$-180 (-13%)
Cockeysville, MD24.5 mi$1,430—
Red Lion, PA30.4 mi$840$-590 (-41%)
Garrison, MD31.6 mi$1,706+$276 (+19%)
Reisterstown, MD32.8 mi$1,370$-60 (-4%)
Windsor Mill, MD34.4 mi$1,400$-30 (-2%)
Lancaster, PA34.5 mi$1,050$-380 (-27%)

Studio rent in Bel Air — common questions

How much is a studio apartment in Bel Air?

As of October 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Bel Air, Maryland is $1,430 per month. This is +31% below the citywide median of $2,085.

What income do you need to afford a studio in Bel Air?

Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $57,200 ($4,767/month gross), which works out to roughly $27.50/hour at a full-time job.

Is Bel Air expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?

Bel Air's studio median of $1,430 is +11% above the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 60th percentile of US cities tracked.

How does Bel Air rank for studio rent in Maryland?

Among the 90 cities in Maryland with studio data, Bel Air ranks #35 from cheapest to most expensive.

Are there cheaper studio options near Bel Air?

Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include Edgewood ($1,300), Nottingham ($1,400), Parkville ($1,340).

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Methodology: Bedroom-level rent medians come from HUD Fair Market Rent data calibrated to the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) for Bel Air, which serves as the citywide anchor. When the HUD bedroom values exceed the ZORI city median (a common quirk in luxury markets and small samples), bedroom values are proportionally scaled down to align. Income required uses the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline. Comparison rankings use the same data month across all cities (October 2026) and exclude cities with median rent below $400 or above $20,000.