What is the cost of living in Los Alamos, NM?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Los Alamos has an overall cost of living index of 116, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Mexico, Los Alamos has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than New Mexico's index of 93.
The standard of living in Los Alamos ranks as #41 most affordable out of the 45 places we measured in New Mexico. By definition, that implies Los Alamos ranks as the #4 most expensive place in the Land of Enchantment.
For more reading on life in Los Alamos, check out:
Los Alamos Cost Of Living Vs. New Mexico
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Los Alamos. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Los Alamos is 97.
The Groceries index in Los Alamos is 96.
The Health index in Los Alamos is 158.
The Housing index in Los Alamos is 94.
The Transportation index in Los Alamos is 100.
The Utilities index in Los Alamos is 99.
| Living Expense | Los Alamos | New Mexico | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 116 | 93 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 158 | 86 | 100 |
| Housing | 94 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 94 | 100 |
Los Alamos 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 Los Alamos Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Los Alamos, 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 Los Alamos is $582,216.
The Median Rent in Los Alamos is $1,359.
The Median Income in Los Alamos is $141,018.
The Home Value To Income in Los Alamos is 4.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Los Alamos is 0.12x.
| Statistic | Los Alamos | New Mexico | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $582,216 | $316,750 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,359 | $1,067 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $141,018 | $64,059 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.1x | 4.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.12x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Los Alamos, NM Costs By Category
Detailed Los Alamos Services costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Los Alamos | 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 Los Alamos Groceries costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Los Alamos | 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 Los Alamos Health costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Los Alamos | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $136.89 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $134.17 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $111.42 | $113.29 |
Detailed Los Alamos Transportation costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Los Alamos | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.5 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $43.87 | $59.92 |
Detailed Los Alamos Utilities costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Los Alamos | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $191.24 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.51 | $192.25 |
Los Alamos SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Los Alamos
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Los Alamos. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Rio Rancho, NM has a cost of living index of 100, 0.9x Los Alamos.
Santa Fe, NM has a cost of living index of 113, 1.0x Los Alamos.
Bernalillo, NM has a cost of living index of 96, 0.8x Los Alamos.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Los Alamos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Rancho, NM | 108,515 | 100 | 0.9x |
| Santa Fe, NM | 89,019 | 113 | 1.0x |
| Bernalillo, NM | 9,086 | 96 | 0.8x |
| White Rock, NM | 5,716 | 120 | 1.0x |
| Eldorado at Santa Fe, NM | 5,619 | 131 | 1.1x |
