What is the cost of living in New Kensington, PA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, New Kensington has an overall cost of living index of 87, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Pennsylvania, New Kensington has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Pennsylvania's index of 97.
The standard of living in New Kensington ranks as #39 most affordable out of the 253 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies New Kensington ranks as the #214 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in New Kensington, check out:
New Kensington Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in New Kensington. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in New Kensington is 101.
The Groceries index in New Kensington is 102.
The Health index in New Kensington is 61.
The Housing index in New Kensington is 106.
The Transportation index in New Kensington is 103.
The Utilities index in New Kensington is 98.
| Living Expense | New Kensington | Pennsylvania | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 87 | 97 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 61 | 88 | 100 |
| Housing | 106 | 102 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
New Kensington Cost Of Living Compared To Pennsylvania Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Pennsylvania, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Pennsylvania
- Most Affordable Cities In Pennsylvania
- Average Rent In Pennsylvania
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
New Kensington, PA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Pennsylvania, 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 New Kensington is $169,953.
The Median Rent in New Kensington is $751.
The Median Income in New Kensington is $49,063.
The Home Value To Income in New Kensington is 3.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in New Kensington is 0.18x.
| Statistic | New Kensington | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $169,953 | $282,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $751 | $1,209 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $49,063 | $77,971 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.5x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
New Kensington, PA Costs By Category
Detailed New Kensington Services costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | New Kensington | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.39 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.77 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.24 | $18 |
| Haircut | $23.73 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $40.4 | $45.56 |
Detailed New Kensington Groceries costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | New Kensington | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.7 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.52 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.47 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.83 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.58 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.72 | $3.7 |
Detailed New Kensington Health costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | New Kensington | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $109.26 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $100.92 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $110.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed New Kensington Transportation costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | New Kensington | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.73 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.05 | $59.92 |
Detailed New Kensington Utilities costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | New Kensington | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $270.68 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $196.77 | $192.25 |
New Kensington SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around New Kensington
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around New Kensington. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Plum, PA has a cost of living index of 99, 1.1x New Kensington.
Allison Park, PA has a cost of living index of 108, 1.2x New Kensington.
Franklin Park, PA has a cost of living index of 133, 1.5x New Kensington.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. New Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plum, PA | 26,723 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Allison Park, PA | 22,045 | 108 | 1.2x |
| Franklin Park, PA | 15,235 | 133 | 1.5x |
| Whitehall, PA | 14,811 | 97 | 1.1x |
| Lower Burrell, PA | 11,633 | 98 | 1.1x |
| Glenshaw, PA | 9,139 | 102 | 1.2x |
| Pleasant Hills, PA | 8,399 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Castle Shannon, PA | 8,209 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Dormont, PA | 8,063 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Oakmont, PA | 6,702 | 109 | 1.3x |
