What is the cost of living in Ruidoso, NM?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Ruidoso has an overall cost of living index of 101, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Mexico, Ruidoso has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than New Mexico's index of 93.
The standard of living in Ruidoso ranks as #35 most affordable out of the 45 places we measured in New Mexico. By definition, that implies Ruidoso ranks as the #10 most expensive place in the Land of Enchantment.
For more reading on life in Ruidoso, check out:
Ruidoso Cost Of Living Vs. New Mexico
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Ruidoso. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Ruidoso is 97.
The Groceries index in Ruidoso is 97.
The Health index in Ruidoso is 103.
The Housing index in Ruidoso is 99.
The Transportation index in Ruidoso is 99.
The Utilities index in Ruidoso is 100.
| Living Expense | Ruidoso | New Mexico | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 101 | 93 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 103 | 86 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 94 | 100 |
Ruidoso 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 Ruidoso Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Ruidoso, 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 Ruidoso is $332,549.
The Median Rent in Ruidoso is $944.
The Median Income in Ruidoso is $52,736.
The Home Value To Income in Ruidoso is 6.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Ruidoso is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Ruidoso | New Mexico | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $332,549 | $316,750 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $944 | $1,067 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $52,736 | $64,059 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.3x | 4.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Ruidoso, NM Costs By Category
Detailed Ruidoso Services costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Ruidoso | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.09 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.0 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $14.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.56 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $46.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed Ruidoso Groceries costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Ruidoso | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.69 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.32 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.53 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.15 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.38 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.68 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.67 | $3.7 |
Detailed Ruidoso Health costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Ruidoso | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $150.67 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $140.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $113.72 | $113.29 |
Detailed Ruidoso Transportation costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Ruidoso | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.35 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $53.65 | $59.92 |
Detailed Ruidoso Utilities costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Ruidoso | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $192.0 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $189.63 | $192.25 |
Ruidoso SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Ruidoso
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Ruidoso. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Alamogordo, NM has a cost of living index of 91, 0.9x Ruidoso.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Ruidoso |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alamogordo, NM | 31,307 | 91 | 0.9x |
