Studio Rent · August 2026

Studio Apartment Rent in Kensington, MD

$2,080/mo

Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Kensington, Maryland as of August 2026. That's +41% lower than the citywide median of $3,513 and +61% above the national studio median of $1,290.

Studio median
$2,080
August 2026
vs city overall
-41%
$3,513 city median
vs national
+61%
$1,290 US median
Maryland rank
#77
of 89 cities

Income needed for a studio in Kensington

Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a studio at the current median rent.

Annual income
$83,200
Monthly gross
$6,933
Hourly (full-time)
$40.00

Rent by apartment size in Kensington

Compare Kensington's median rent across every apartment size.

Studio (current)
$2,080
1-Bedroom
$2,120
2-Bedroom
$2,390
3-Bedroom
$2,990
4+ Bedroom
$3,530

Cheapest cities for a studio in Maryland

#CityStudio rent
1Cumberland$680
2Hagerstown$820
3Ocean City$880
4Salisbury$1,090
5Lochearn$1,168
6Easton$1,170
7Bladensburg$1,206
8Brooklyn Park$1,250
9Dundalk$1,250
10Essex$1,250
11Halethorpe$1,250
12Westminster$1,250
13Aberdeen$1,270
14Rossville$1,270
15Temple Hills$1,281

Most expensive cities for a studio in Maryland

#CityStudio rent
1Potomac$3,020
2Bethesda$2,675
3New Market$2,530
4Derwood$2,400
5Olney$2,380
6Chevy Chase$2,370
7Rockville$2,297
8Brandywine$2,250
9Lake Arbor$2,130
10Upper Marlboro$2,115
11Jessup$2,110
12Gambrills$2,100
13Kensington (this page)$2,080
14Hanover$2,050
15Germantown$2,050

Nearby cities — studio rent

Considering nearby alternatives? 5 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than Kensington.

CityDistanceStudio rentvs Kensington
Bethesda, MD3.8 mi$2,675+$595 (+29%)
Silver Spring, MD4.3 mi$1,587$-493 (-24%)
Takoma Park, MD6.1 mi$1,290$-790 (-38%)
Chillum, MD7.6 mi$1,410$-670 (-32%)
Olney, MD8.5 mi$2,380+$300 (+14%)
Washington, DC8.8 mi$2,145+$65 (+3%)
Hyattsville, MD8.8 mi$1,840$-240 (-12%)
McLean, VA10 mi$2,245+$165 (+8%)
College Park, MD10.2 mi$1,634$-446 (-21%)
Gaithersburg, MD11.8 mi$1,983$-97 (-5%)
Bladensburg, MD12 mi$1,206$-874 (-42%)
East Riverdale, MD12.1 mi$1,580$-500 (-24%)

Studio rent in Kensington — common questions

How much is a studio apartment in Kensington?

As of August 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Kensington, Maryland is $2,080 per month. This is +41% below the citywide median of $3,513.

What income do you need to afford a studio in Kensington?

Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $83,200 ($6,933/month gross), which works out to roughly $40.00/hour at a full-time job.

Is Kensington expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?

Kensington's studio median of $2,080 is +61% above the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 90th percentile of US cities tracked.

How does Kensington rank for studio rent in Maryland?

Among the 89 cities in Maryland with studio data, Kensington ranks #77 from cheapest to most expensive.

Are there cheaper studio options near Kensington?

Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include Silver Spring ($1,587), Takoma Park ($1,290), Chillum ($1,410).

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Methodology: Bedroom-level rent medians come from HUD Fair Market Rent data calibrated to the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) for Kensington, which serves as the citywide anchor. When the HUD bedroom values exceed the ZORI city median (a common quirk in luxury markets and small samples), bedroom values are proportionally scaled down to align. Income required uses the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline. Comparison rankings use the same data month across all cities (August 2026) and exclude cities with median rent below $400 or above $20,000.