Cost of Living in Bethany Beach, DE

With a cost of living index of 138, Bethany Beach, DE is a notably expensive place to live. Living here is 38% more expensive than the national average and 33% above the Delaware state average of 105. Bethany Beach is a small community of 923 residents.

Housing costs are the biggest factor in Bethany Beach's cost of living. The median monthly rent is $1,688 (28% above the US median of $1,319), and the median home value sits at $648,500 (113% above the national median of $304,900). At current prices, the median home costs roughly 6.1x the median household income — a challenging ratio that puts homeownership out of reach for many residents.

The median household income in Bethany Beach is $105,833, which is 41% higher than the national median of $75,149. Residents spend roughly 19% of household income on rent. This is a comfortable ratio, well below the 30% threshold that financial experts recommend as a maximum. While incomes are above average, they more than offset the higher cost of living.

Data sources: US Census Bureau (ACS 2023), Zillow Home Values, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities, BLS Average Prices, and NOAA Climate Normals. Updated monthly.