What is the cost of living in Rio Rancho, NM?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Rio Rancho has an overall cost of living index of 100, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Mexico, Rio Rancho has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than New Mexico's index of 93.
The standard of living in Rio Rancho ranks as #34 most affordable out of the 45 places we measured in New Mexico. By definition, that implies Rio Rancho ranks as the #11 most expensive place in the Land of Enchantment.
For more reading on life in Rio Rancho, check out:
Rio Rancho Cost Of Living Vs. New Mexico
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Rio Rancho. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Rio Rancho is 99.
The Groceries index in Rio Rancho is 100.
The Health index in Rio Rancho is 112.
The Housing index in Rio Rancho is 98.
The Transportation index in Rio Rancho is 98.
The Utilities index in Rio Rancho is 94.
| Living Expense | Rio Rancho | New Mexico | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 100 | 93 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 112 | 86 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 94 | 94 | 100 |
Rio Rancho 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 Rio Rancho Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Rio Rancho, 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 Rio Rancho is $361,856.
The Median Rent in Rio Rancho is $1,514.
The Median Income in Rio Rancho is $89,596.
The Home Value To Income in Rio Rancho is 4.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Rio Rancho is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Rio Rancho | New Mexico | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $361,856 | $316,750 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,514 | $1,067 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $89,596 | $64,059 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.0x | 4.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Rio Rancho, NM Costs By Category
Detailed Rio Rancho Services costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Rio Rancho | 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 Rio Rancho Groceries costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Rio Rancho | 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 Rio Rancho Health costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Rio Rancho | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $136.89 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $134.17 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $111.42 | $113.29 |
Detailed Rio Rancho Transportation costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Rio Rancho | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.5 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $43.87 | $59.92 |
Detailed Rio Rancho Utilities costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Rio Rancho | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $191.24 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.51 | $192.25 |
Rio Rancho SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Rio Rancho
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Rio Rancho. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Albuquerque, NM has a cost of living index of 102, 1.0x Rio Rancho.
South Valley, NM has a cost of living index of 92, 0.9x Rio Rancho.
North Valley, NM has a cost of living index of 99, 1.0x Rio Rancho.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Rio Rancho |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | 562,218 | 102 | 1.0x |
| South Valley, NM | 37,120 | 92 | 0.9x |
| North Valley, NM | 10,455 | 99 | 1.0x |
| Bernalillo, NM | 9,086 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Corrales, NM | 8,555 | 131 | 1.3x |
| Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM | 5,857 | 127 | 1.3x |
