What is the cost of living in Portales, NM?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Portales has an overall cost of living index of 88, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Mexico, Portales has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than New Mexico's index of 93.
The standard of living in Portales ranks as #10 most affordable out of the 45 places we measured in New Mexico. By definition, that implies Portales ranks as the #35 most expensive place in the Land of Enchantment.
For more reading on life in Portales, check out:
Portales Cost Of Living Vs. New Mexico
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Portales. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Portales is 101.
The Groceries index in Portales is 101.
The Health index in Portales is 68.
The Housing index in Portales is 95.
The Transportation index in Portales is 93.
The Utilities index in Portales is 95.
| Living Expense | Portales | New Mexico | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 88 | 93 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 68 | 86 | 100 |
| Housing | 95 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 93 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 94 | 100 |
Portales 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 Portales Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Portales, 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 Portales is $134,843.
The Median Rent in Portales is $903.
The Median Income in Portales is $50,555.
The Home Value To Income in Portales is 2.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Portales is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Portales | New Mexico | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $134,843 | $316,750 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $903 | $1,067 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $50,555 | $64,059 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.7x | 4.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Portales, NM Costs By Category
Detailed Portales Services costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Portales | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.28 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.18 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $22.25 | $18 |
| Haircut | $31.33 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $55.26 | $45.56 |
Detailed Portales Groceries costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Portales | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.58 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.67 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.55 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.87 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.76 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.37 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.68 | $3.7 |
Detailed Portales Health costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Portales | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.03 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $113.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $109.67 | $113.29 |
Detailed Portales Transportation costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Portales | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.26 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $55.19 | $59.92 |
Detailed Portales Utilities costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Portales | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $189.14 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $207.58 | $192.25 |
Portales SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Portales
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Portales. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Clovis, NM has a cost of living index of 92, 1.0x Portales.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Portales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clovis, NM | 37,942 | 92 | 1.0x |
