What is the cost of living in Taos, NM?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Taos has an overall cost of living index of 107, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Mexico, Taos has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than New Mexico's index of 93.
The standard of living in Taos ranks as #39 most affordable out of the 45 places we measured in New Mexico. By definition, that implies Taos ranks as the #6 most expensive place in the Land of Enchantment.
For more reading on life in Taos, check out:
Taos Cost Of Living Vs. New Mexico
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Taos. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Taos is 94.
The Groceries index in Taos is 95.
The Health index in Taos is 134.
The Housing index in Taos is 93.
The Transportation index in Taos is 97.
The Utilities index in Taos is 101.
| Living Expense | Taos | New Mexico | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 107 | 93 | 100 |
| Services | 94 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 134 | 86 | 100 |
| Housing | 93 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 94 | 100 |
Taos 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 Taos Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Taos, 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 Taos is $439,303.
The Median Rent in Taos is $883.
The Median Income in Taos is $47,304.
The Home Value To Income in Taos is 9.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Taos is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Taos | New Mexico | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $439,303 | $316,750 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $883 | $1,067 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $47,304 | $64,059 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.3x | 4.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Taos, NM Costs By Category
Detailed Taos Services costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Taos | 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 Taos Groceries costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Taos | 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 Taos Health costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Taos | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $136.89 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $134.17 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $111.42 | $113.29 |
Detailed Taos Transportation costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Taos | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.5 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $43.87 | $59.92 |
Detailed Taos Utilities costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Taos | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $191.24 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.51 | $192.25 |
