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 192, 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 #190 most affordable out of the 195 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:
South Kensington Cost Of Living Vs. Maryland
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in South Kensington. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in South Kensington is 110.
The Groceries index in South Kensington is 111.
The Health index in South Kensington is 385.
The Housing index in South Kensington is 111.
The Transportation index in South Kensington is 110.
The Utilities index in South Kensington is 110.
| Living Expense | South Kensington | Maryland | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 192 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 111 | 107 | 100 |
| Health | 385 | 152 | 100 |
| Housing | 111 | 109 | 100 |
| Transportation | 110 | 108 | 100 |
| Utilities | 110 | 109 | 100 |
South 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 South Kensington Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in South Kensington is $941,277.
The Median Rent in South Kensington is $3,479.
The Median Income in South Kensington is $210,953.
The Home Value To Income in South Kensington is 4.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in South Kensington is 0.2x.
| Statistic | South Kensington | Maryland | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $941,277 | $429,704 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $3,479 | $1,705 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $210,953 | $103,678 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.5x | 4.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
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
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 136, 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 156, 0.8x South Kensington.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. South Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheaton, MD | 52,926 | 136 | 0.7x |
| Olney, MD | 35,797 | 153 | 0.8x |
| Clarksburg, MD | 30,487 | 156 | 0.8x |
| North Laurel, MD | 25,563 | 137 | 0.7x |
| North Potomac, MD | 23,922 | 176 | 0.9x |
| Colesville, MD | 14,519 | 145 | 0.8x |
| Kemp Mill, MD | 13,042 | 147 | 0.8x |
| Travilah, MD | 11,721 | 225 | 1.2x |
| Chevy Chase, MD | 9,445 | 257 | 1.3x |
| North Kensington, MD | 8,954 | 144 | 0.8x |
