Cost of Living in New Mexico

Published: September 16, 2020 12:21 am

Last Updated: September 16, 2020 9:17 am

Living in New Mexico is less expensive than it is on average across the U.S. as a whole. According to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, goods and services in the state cost 8.9% less than they do on average nationwide. Compared with all other states, New Mexico has the 18th lowest overall cost of living.

In general, living in dense, urban metro areas is more expensive than living in more rural areas. New Mexico is home to four metropolitan areas. The most expensive in the state is the Santa Fe metro area, where the cost of goods and services is 2.2% lower than the national average and 6.7% higher than the statewide average.

New Mexico Housing Costs

Housing is one of the largest components of cost of living. In New Mexico, the typical home is worth $166,800, $38,100 less than the national median home value of $204,900. Across the state, the median price of a home built in 1939 or earlier is $149,800, while the median value of a home built in 2014 or later is $237,300.

The typical renter in New Mexico spends $828 a month on housing, $195 less than the $1,023 national median monthly rent. Monthly rent for a one-bedroom in the state is $665, while the typical rent for a unit with five or more bedrooms is $1,310.

Across the state, 32.4% of occupied homes are rented, less than the 36.2% national average and the 19th lowest renter rate of any state.

New Mexico Transportation Costs

Transportation can also be a significant component of cost of living. In New Mexico, 90.2% of commuters drive to work, compared to 85.5% of commuters nationwide. On average, the typical motorist in the state drives 14,178 miles a year. Taking into account average fuel economy and the average cost of gas -- regular fuel cost an average of $2.03 a gallon in New Mexico in mid-2020 -- the average motorist in the state can expect to spend $1,188 on gas alone in one year.

Other transportation costs, like car insurance premiums, can vary by state. In New Mexico, the average car insurance premium is $1,275, less than the $1,517 national average, according to data from Insure.com. And according to data from the EPI, the average single adult in the state spends $9,746 a year on transportation.

New Mexico Health Care Costs

Out-of-pocket costs and insurance premiums for health care -- assuming at least a basic level of health insurance coverage -- are relatively low in New Mexico. Average health care costs for a single adult in the state total $3,326 per year, compared to the national average of $4,266. For a family of four, average annual health care costs total $10,213 -- $2,737 less than the comparable national average of $12,950.

New Mexico Food Costs

Food is another every day expense that has a significant impact on the overall cost of living in an area. Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that the cost of food varies from state to state.

In New Mexico, a single adult spends an average of $3,082 on food annually, and a family of four spends $8,902 on average. For context, the nationwide average annual food expenditure is $3,240 for a single adult and $9,354 for a family of four. These estimates are calculated for a nutritionally adequate diet of food purchased at a grocery store for at home preparation.

New Mexico Child Care Costs

For families, child care adds thousands of dollars to overall annual spending. The average annual cost of child care for a 4 year old child in New Mexico is $7,844, well below the national average of $8,903. Similarly, it costs an average of $13,857 to care for a 4 year old child and an 8 year old child per year in New Mexico compared to the national average of $15,853.

New Mexico Taxes

Few expenses vary as much from state to state as taxes. Accounting for state and federal income taxes, as well as Social Security contributions and Medicare payroll, the average adult working in New Mexico pays $5,119 annually in taxes -- below the national average of $6,542.

Excluding federal taxes and incorporating state and local taxes such as property and sales taxes -- the state and local tax burden in New Mexico is lower than the average across the U.S. as a whole. Per capita state tax collections in New Mexico come out to $2,707 per year, compared to the $3,151 average across all states.

Cost of Living by County or County Equivalent

Just as cost of living varies from state to state, it also varies from place to place within states. In New Mexico, Sandoval County, home to the city of Rio Rancho, has the highest overall cost of living for a family of four at $83,558 per year, well above the statewide average of $72,666 per year.

Note that monetary figures are rounded to the nearest dollar and calculated differences may not always add up perfectly to the nearest dollar.