City Comparison
Bel Air South vs Moscow
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Moscow scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Bel Air South
Moscow
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Moscow is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
134% higher compared to Bel Air South.
Housing costs are a major driver: Bel Air South's average rent is
63% higher than Moscow's.
| Metric | Bel Air South | Moscow | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,187 | $1,338 | +63% |
| Groceries | $400 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $220 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $180 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $150 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $3,137 | $1,338 | +134% |
| Cost Index | 117 | 111 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Moscow offers 18% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Moscow delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Bel Air South is estimated at
$65,000 vs $84,360 in Moscow.
| Metric | Bel Air South | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $62,200 | $76,000 |
| Salary Needed | $65,000 | $84,360 |
| Purchasing Power | 53,162 idx | 68,468 idx |
| Household Income | $123,653 | $57,022 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Bel Air South | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 80.00% | % |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Moscow has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
8,500 minutes (142 hours) per year compared to Bel Air South.
Moscow scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Moscow leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Bel Air South | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 31 min | 14 min |
| Transit Score | 16.0/10 | 45.0/10 |
| Walkability | 22.0/10 | 48.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 60.00 | 40.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Bel Air South is the larger city
— approximately 2.3x the population of Moscow.
From a growth perspective, Bel Air South is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Moscow has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Bel Air South | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 60,008 | 26,286 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.30% | 0.80% |
| Median Age | 38.5 | 25.7 |
| Unemployment | 3.40% | 3.00% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Bel Air South
Advantages
Bel Air South boasts a high median household income of $123,653 as of 2024, significantly exceeding national averages.
The community has an exceptional Livability Score of 82/100, indicating a high quality of life.
Home prices in Bel Air South have shown strong appreciation, with a 12.5% increase in median home prices by May 2026 compared to the previous year.
The area benefits from a strong job market, particularly in education, healthcare, and the defense/technology sectors due to its proximity to Aberdeen Proving Ground.
Access to comprehensive healthcare facilities like UM Upper Chesapeake Medical Center Bel Air and MedStar Health at Bel Air Medical Center ensures quality medical care.
Drawbacks
Bel Air South's cost of living is estimated to be 17% higher than the national average, primarily driven by housing and utility costs.
The community is highly car-dependent, with low Walk (22/100) and Transit (16/100) scores, indicating minimal public transportation options.
Crime rates in Bel Air South are reported to be 12% higher than the national average, with violent crimes 13% higher.
The violent crime rate of 6.6 per 1,000 residents is significantly higher than the national average of 3.6.
Utility costs, particularly electricity, are higher than both the Maryland and national averages.
Moscow
Advantages
High walkability score of 48, making many errands accessible on foot.
Short average commute time of 14.3 minutes, significantly below the national average.
Strong presence of the University of Idaho contributes to a vibrant cultural scene and job market.
Crime rates have seen a significant decrease, with violent crime rates well below the national average.
Rental prices are relatively affordable compared to national averages, despite a higher cost of living than the Idaho average.
Drawbacks
Median household income ($57,022) is below the national average.
Cost of living is 11% higher than the national average.
Limited public transit options contribute to a medium car dependency.
Job growth rate of 0.167% is modest.
Median age of 25.7 is significantly younger than the national average, which may not appeal to all demographics.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Bel Air South
#119Maryland, USA
51.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,187
Avg Salary
$62,200
Cost Index
117
Commute
31 min
Transit Score
16.0/10
Walkability
22.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.30%
Unemployment
3.40%
Livability
82
Business
75
Moscow
#72Idaho, USA
60.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,338
Avg Salary
$76,000
Cost Index
111
Commute
14 min
Transit Score
45.0/10
Walkability
48.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
3.00%
Livability
87
Business
65
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