South Kensington, MD Cost Of Living

Demographics | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In South Kensington, MD Summary

Cost of living in South Kensington research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means South Kensington is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Maryland, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in South Kensington is 191, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in South Kensington is 1.9x higher than the national average.

  • South Kensington ranks as the #189 cheapest in Maryland out of 194.

  • South Kensington ranks as the #6,266 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in South Kensington is $973,105.

  • The median income in South Kensington is $193,793.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
191
South Kensington's Overall Cost Of Living
1.9x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in South Kensington, MD?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, South Kensington has an overall cost of living index of 191, which is 1.9x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Maryland, South Kensington has a cost of living index that's 1.6x higher than Maryland's index of 121.

The standard of living in South Kensington ranks as #189 most affordable out of the 194 places we measured in Maryland. By definition, that implies South Kensington ranks as the #5 most expensive place in the Old Line State.

For more reading on life in South Kensington, check out:

189 out of 194
In Maryland
6,266 out of 6,489
In America

South Kensington Cost Of Living Vs. Maryland

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in South Kensington. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in South Kensington is 110.

  • The Groceries index in South Kensington is 109.

  • The Health index in South Kensington is 99.

  • The Housing index in South Kensington is 383.

  • The Transportation index in South Kensington is 96.

  • The Utilities index in South Kensington is 109.

Living Expense South Kensington Maryland National Average
Overall 191 121 100
Services 110 105 100
Groceries 109 107 100
Health 99 96 100
Housing 383 150 100
Transportation 96 99 100
Utilities 109 113 100
For more reading on cost of living around Maryland, check out:
South Kensington Cost of Living Vs. MD

South 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in South Kensington is $973,105.

  • The Median Rent in South Kensington is $3,141.

  • The Median Income in South Kensington is $193,793.

  • The Home Value To Income in South Kensington is 5.0x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in South Kensington is 0.19x.

Statistic South Kensington Maryland United States
Median Home Value $973,105 $427,628 $303,400
Median Rent $3,141 $1,662 $1,348
Median Income $193,793 $101,652 $78,538
Home Value To Income 5.0x 4.2x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.19x 0.2x 0.21x
$973,105
Median Home Value
$3,141
Median Rent
$193,793
Median Income

South Kensington, MD Costs By Category

Detailed South Kensington Services Costs Vs. Maryland

Item South 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 South Kensington Groceries Costs Vs. Maryland

Item South 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 South Kensington Health Costs Vs. Maryland

Item South Kensington Maryland
Optometrist $92.0 $125.68
Doctor $135.03 $135.78
Dentist $117.67 $113.29

Detailed South Kensington Transportation Costs Vs. Maryland

Item South Kensington Maryland
Gasoline $3.25 $3.46
Tire Balancing $59.0 $59.92

Detailed South Kensington Utilities Costs Vs. Maryland

Item South Kensington Maryland
All Electricity $222.47 $193.99
Phone $197.37 $192.25

South Kensington SnackAbility

7.5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
9.5/10
Housing
10
Affordability
6
Diversity
8
Safety
N/A
Amenities
9
Education
9.5
Commute
4

Cost Of Living In Cities Around South Kensington

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around South 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 134, 0.7x South Kensington.

  • Olney, MD has a cost of living index of 153, 0.8x South Kensington.

  • Clarksburg, MD has a cost of living index of 152, 0.8x South Kensington.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. South Kensington
Wheaton, MD 52,172 134 0.7x
Olney, MD 36,000 153 0.8x
Clarksburg, MD 29,246 152 0.8x
North Laurel, MD 25,201 132 0.7x
North Potomac, MD 23,994 172 0.9x
Kemp Mill, MD 14,437 145 0.8x
Colesville, MD 14,075 140 0.7x
Travilah, MD 11,128 224 1.2x
Chevy Chase, MD 9,484 257 1.3x
North Kensington, MD 8,980 141 0.7x

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