Agua Fria, NM vs Ruidoso, NM

Ruidoso is moderately more affordable than Agua Fria, with a 13% lower cost of living index. Agua Fria scores 89 compared to 79 for Ruidoso, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Agua Fria can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Agua Fria is $1,143/month compared to $924/month in Ruidoso — a 24% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Ruidoso is more affordable at $229,100 median vs $264,900.

Median household income in Agua Fria is $47,438 compared to $50,259 in Ruidoso (-5.6%). Ruidoso offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Agua Fria spend roughly 28.9% of their income on rent, more than the 22.1% in Ruidoso.