What is the cost of living in South Valley, NM?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, South Valley has an overall cost of living index of 92, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Mexico, South Valley has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than New Mexico's index of 93.
The standard of living in South Valley ranks as #21 most affordable out of the 45 places we measured in New Mexico. By definition, that implies South Valley ranks as the #24 most expensive place in the Land of Enchantment.
For more reading on life in South Valley, check out:
South Valley Cost Of Living Vs. New Mexico
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in South Valley. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in South Valley is 100.
The Groceries index in South Valley is 99.
The Health index in South Valley is 82.
The Housing index in South Valley is 101.
The Transportation index in South Valley is 97.
The Utilities index in South Valley is 94.
| Living Expense | South Valley | New Mexico | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 92 | 93 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 82 | 86 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 94 | 94 | 100 |
South Valley 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 South Valley Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
South Valley, 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 South Valley is $286,364.
The Median Rent in South Valley is $954.
The Median Income in South Valley is $58,224.
The Home Value To Income in South Valley is 4.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in South Valley is 0.2x.
| Statistic | South Valley | New Mexico | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $286,364 | $316,750 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $954 | $1,067 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $58,224 | $64,059 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.9x | 4.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
South Valley, NM Costs By Category
Detailed South Valley Services costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | South Valley | 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 South Valley Groceries costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | South Valley | 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 South Valley Health costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | South Valley | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $136.89 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $134.17 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $111.42 | $113.29 |
Detailed South Valley Transportation costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | South Valley | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.5 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $43.87 | $59.92 |
Detailed South Valley Utilities costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | South Valley | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $191.24 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.51 | $192.25 |
South Valley SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around South Valley
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around South Valley. 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, 1.1x South Valley.
Rio Rancho, NM has a cost of living index of 100, 1.1x South Valley.
Los Lunas, NM has a cost of living index of 99, 1.1x South Valley.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. South Valley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | 562,218 | 102 | 1.1x |
| Rio Rancho, NM | 108,515 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Los Lunas, NM | 18,618 | 99 | 1.1x |
| North Valley, NM | 10,455 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM | 5,857 | 127 | 1.4x |
