What is the cost of living in North Kensington, MD?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, North Kensington has an overall cost of living index of 144, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Maryland, North Kensington has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Maryland's index of 121.
The standard of living in North Kensington ranks as #161 most affordable out of the 195 places we measured in Maryland. By definition, that implies North Kensington ranks as the #34 most expensive place in the Old Line State.
For more reading on life in North Kensington, check out:
North Kensington Cost Of Living Vs. Maryland
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in North Kensington. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in North Kensington is 106.
The Groceries index in North Kensington is 110.
The Health index in North Kensington is 221.
The Housing index in North Kensington is 113.
The Transportation index in North Kensington is 106.
The Utilities index in North Kensington is 112.
| Living Expense | North Kensington | Maryland | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 144 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 110 | 107 | 100 |
| Health | 221 | 152 | 100 |
| Housing | 113 | 109 | 100 |
| Transportation | 106 | 108 | 100 |
| Utilities | 112 | 109 | 100 |
North Kensington Cost Of Living Compared To Maryland Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Maryland, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in North Kensington Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
North Kensington, MD Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Maryland, 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 North Kensington is $590,166.
The Median Rent in North Kensington is $1,828.
The Median Income in North Kensington is $135,040.
The Home Value To Income in North Kensington is 4.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in North Kensington is 0.16x.
| Statistic | North Kensington | Maryland | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $590,166 | $429,704 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,828 | $1,705 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $135,040 | $103,678 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.4x | 4.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.16x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
North Kensington, MD Costs By Category
Detailed North Kensington Services costs vs. Maryland
| Item | North Kensington | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.51 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.69 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.83 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.11 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $70.08 | $45.56 |
Detailed North Kensington Groceries costs vs. Maryland
| Item | North Kensington | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.24 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.4 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.78 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.49 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.56 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.1 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.81 | $3.7 |
Detailed North Kensington Health costs vs. Maryland
| Item | North Kensington | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $92.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $135.03 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.67 | $113.29 |
Detailed North Kensington Transportation costs vs. Maryland
| Item | North Kensington | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.25 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $59.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed North Kensington Utilities costs vs. Maryland
| Item | North Kensington | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $222.47 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $197.37 | $192.25 |
North Kensington SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around North Kensington
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around North Kensington. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Wheaton, MD has a cost of living index of 136, 0.9x North Kensington.
North Bethesda, MD has a cost of living index of 163, 1.1x North Kensington.
Olney, MD has a cost of living index of 153, 1.1x North Kensington.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. North Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheaton, MD | 52,926 | 136 | 0.9x |
| North Bethesda, MD | 49,677 | 163 | 1.1x |
| Olney, MD | 35,797 | 153 | 1.1x |
| Clarksburg, MD | 30,487 | 156 | 1.1x |
| North Laurel, MD | 25,563 | 137 | 1.0x |
| North Potomac, MD | 23,922 | 176 | 1.2x |
| Glenmont, MD | 17,208 | 140 | 1.0x |
| Colesville, MD | 14,519 | 145 | 1.0x |
| Kemp Mill, MD | 13,042 | 147 | 1.0x |
| Four Corners, MD | 8,150 | 154 | 1.1x |








