Belen, NM Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Belen, NM Summary

Cost of living in Belen 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 Belen is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in New Mexico, 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 Belen is 87, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Belen is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Belen ranks as the #11 cheapest in New Mexico out of 45.

  • Belen ranks as the #777 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Belen is $267,761.

  • The median income in Belen is $40,354.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
87
Belen's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Belen, NM?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Belen has an overall cost of living index of 87, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to New Mexico, Belen has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than New Mexico's index of 95.

The standard of living in Belen ranks as #11 most affordable out of the 45 places we measured in New Mexico. By definition, that implies Belen ranks as the #34 most expensive place in the Land of Enchantment.

For more reading on life in Belen, check out:

11 out of 45
In New Mexico
777 out of 6,489
In America

Belen Cost Of Living Vs. New Mexico

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

  • The Services index in Belen is 100.

  • The Groceries index in Belen is 97.

  • The Health index in Belen is 95.

  • The Housing index in Belen is 62.

  • The Transportation index in Belen is 95.

  • The Utilities index in Belen is 100.

Living Expense Belen New Mexico National Average
Overall 87 95 100
Services 100 96 100
Groceries 97 96 100
Health 95 95 100
Housing 62 87 100
Transportation 95 93 100
Utilities 100 89 100
For more reading on cost of living around New Mexico, check out:
Belen Cost of Living Vs. NM

Belen, NM Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in New Mexico, 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 Belen is $267,761.

  • The Median Rent in Belen is $877.

  • The Median Income in Belen is $40,354.

  • The Home Value To Income in Belen is 6.6x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Belen is 0.26x.

Statistic Belen New Mexico United States
Median Home Value $267,761 $311,815 $303,400
Median Rent $877 $1,021 $1,348
Median Income $40,354 $62,125 $78,538
Home Value To Income 6.6x 5.0x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.26x 0.2x 0.21x
$267,761
Median Home Value
$877
Median Rent
$40,354
Median Income

Belen, NM Costs By Category

Detailed Belen Services Costs Vs. New Mexico

Item Belen New Mexico
Shampoo $1.15 $1.28
Movie $12.54 $12.13
Bowling $20.89 $18
Haircut $31.9 $24.26
Beauty Salon $50.83 $45.56

Detailed Belen Groceries Costs Vs. New Mexico

Item Belen New Mexico
Ground Beef $5.11 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.32 $1.57
Milk $4.63 $4.67
Potatoes $4.18 $4.93
Pizza $13.42 $12.09
Beer $11.07 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.62 $3.7

Detailed Belen Health Costs Vs. New Mexico

Item Belen New Mexico
Optometrist $136.89 $125.68
Doctor $134.17 $135.78
Dentist $111.42 $113.29

Detailed Belen Transportation Costs Vs. New Mexico

Item Belen New Mexico
Gasoline $3.5 $3.46
Tire Balancing $43.87 $59.92

Detailed Belen Utilities Costs Vs. New Mexico

Item Belen New Mexico
All Electricity $191.24 $193.99
Phone $190.51 $192.25

Belen SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
3/10
Housing
5
Affordability
6
Diversity
8
Safety
N/A
Amenities
7
Education
6
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Belen

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Belen. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Los Lunas, NM has a cost of living index of 96, 1.1x Belen.

  • El Cerro Mission, NM has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Belen.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Belen
Los Lunas, NM 17,932 96 1.1x
El Cerro Mission, NM 5,101 90 1.0x

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