Beltsville, MD vs Chesapeake Beach, MD

Chesapeake Beach is moderately more affordable than Beltsville, with a 11% lower cost of living index. Beltsville scores 130 compared to 117 for Chesapeake Beach, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Beltsville can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Beltsville is $1,989/month compared to $1,490/month in Chesapeake Beach — a 34% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Chesapeake Beach has cheaper rent, Beltsville actually has lower median home values ($381,100 vs $438,300).

Median household income in Beltsville is $97,115 compared to $135,888 in Chesapeake Beach (-28.5%). Chesapeake Beach offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Beltsville spend roughly 24.6% of their income on rent, more than the 13.2% in Chesapeake Beach.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (59.3°F vs 57.7°F). Chesapeake Beach receives more rainfall at 44" per year compared to 41.8" in Beltsville.