What is the cost of living in Kensington, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Kensington has an overall cost of living index of 232, which is 2.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Kensington has a cost of living index that's 1.6x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Kensington ranks as #573 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Kensington ranks as the #61 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Kensington, check out:
Kensington Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Kensington. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Kensington is 118.
The Groceries index in Kensington is 112.
The Health index in Kensington is 477.
The Housing index in Kensington is 127.
The Transportation index in Kensington is 123.
The Utilities index in Kensington is 132.
| Living Expense | Kensington | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 232 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 118 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 477 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 127 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 123 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 132 | 121 | 100 |
Kensington Cost Of Living Compared To California Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Kensington Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Kensington, CA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in California, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Kensington is $1,510,134.
The Median Rent in Kensington is $3,501.
The Median Income in Kensington is $237,130.
The Home Value To Income in Kensington is 6.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Kensington is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Kensington | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,510,134 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $3,501 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $237,130 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.4x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Kensington, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Kensington Services costs vs. California
| Item | Kensington | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.45 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $16.46 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $27.22 | $18 |
| Haircut | $25.0 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $76.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed Kensington Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Kensington | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.7 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $3.43 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.91 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.87 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.18 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.64 | $3.7 |
Detailed Kensington Health costs vs. California
| Item | Kensington | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $137.4 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $110.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $118.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Kensington Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Kensington | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.6 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.97 | $59.92 |
Detailed Kensington Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Kensington | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $182.51 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Kensington SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Kensington
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Kensington. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Berkeley, CA has a cost of living index of 222, 1.0x Kensington.
Richmond, CA has a cost of living index of 153, 0.7x Kensington.
Mountain View, CA has a cost of living index of 287, 1.2x Kensington.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley, CA | 120,257 | 222 | 1.0x |
| Richmond, CA | 115,505 | 153 | 0.7x |
| Mountain View, CA | 83,732 | 287 | 1.2x |
| South San Francisco, CA | 64,305 | 205 | 0.9x |
| Danville, CA | 43,401 | 233 | 1.0x |
| San Pablo, CA | 31,720 | 141 | 0.6x |
| San Lorenzo, CA | 29,171 | 170 | 0.7x |
| Hercules, CA | 26,302 | 170 | 0.7x |
| El Cerrito, CA | 25,994 | 203 | 0.9x |
| Lafayette, CA | 25,285 | 281 | 1.2x |
