Bethesda, MD at a glance
Median household income
$192,237$16,020 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Bethesda, MD?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Bethesda, MD? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,953 | $23,436 | $78,120 | 12.2% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $2,015 | $24,180 | $80,600 | 12.6% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $2,246 | $26,952 | $89,840 | 14% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,835 | $34,020 | $113,400 | 17.7% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $3,332 | $39,984 | $133,280 | 20.8% |
What a typical income covers in Bethesda, MD
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $192,237 a year ($16,020 a month before tax).
What $192,237 leaves after Maryland taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Maryland tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Maryland
Living in Bethesda, MD: common questions
What is the median household income in Bethesda, MD?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Bethesda, MD is $192,237 per year (approximately $16,020 per month).
What is the average rent in Bethesda, MD?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,953 for a studio, $2,015 for one bedroom, $2,246 for two, $2,835 for three and $3,332 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Bethesda, MD expensive to live in?
Prices there run 8.9% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 108.9, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Bethesda, MD?
To keep a $2,246 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $89,840 a year, or $7,487 a month. That is 47% of what the typical household in Bethesda, MD earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Bethesda, MD?
On the local median income of $192,237 ($16,020 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $8,010 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $4,806 for everything else and $3,204 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $2,246 takes 28% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Bethesda, MD?
Homes in Maryland paid 21.8¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $197. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.