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 93.
The standard of living in Belen ranks as #8 most affordable out of the 45 places we measured in New Mexico. By definition, that implies Belen ranks as the #37 most expensive place in the Land of Enchantment.
For more reading on life in Belen, check out:
Belen Cost Of Living Vs. New Mexico
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Belen. Here is how it fares 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 62.
The Housing index in Belen is 101.
The Transportation index in Belen is 95.
The Utilities index in Belen is 91.
| Living Expense | Belen | New Mexico | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 87 | 93 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 62 | 86 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 91 | 94 | 100 |
Belen Cost Of Living Compared To New Mexico Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around New Mexico, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Belen Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Belen is $266,791.
The Median Rent in Belen is $916.
The Median Income in Belen is $42,627.
The Home Value To Income in Belen is 6.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Belen is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Belen | New Mexico | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $266,791 | $316,750 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $916 | $1,067 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $42,627 | $64,059 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.3x | 4.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
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
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 99, 1.1x Belen.
El Cerro Mission, NM has a cost of living index of 87, 1.0x Belen.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Belen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Lunas, NM | 18,618 | 99 | 1.1x |
| El Cerro Mission, NM | 5,323 | 87 | 1.0x |
