Bel Air, MD vs Brentwood, MD

Bel Air is moderately more affordable than Brentwood, with a 10.7% lower cost of living index. Bel Air scores 107 compared to 120 for Brentwood, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Brentwood can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Bel Air is $1,526/month compared to $1,564/month in Brentwood — a 2% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Bel Air is more affordable at $297,400 median vs $413,100.

Median household income in Bel Air is $69,912 compared to $70,573 in Brentwood (-0.9%). Brentwood does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Bel Air spend roughly 26.2% of their income on rent, less than the 26.6% in Brentwood.

Climate-wise, Brentwood is notably warmer with an average of 59.3°F compared to 55.2°F in Bel Air. Bel Air receives more rainfall at 47.1" per year compared to 41.8" in Brentwood.