Artesia, NM vs Los Alamos, NM

The cost of living difference between Artesia, NM and Los Alamos, NM is dramatic. Artesia is 30.6% cheaper than Los Alamos, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Artesia has a cost index of 76 while Los Alamos sits at 110, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Artesia is $875/month compared to $1,304/month in Los Alamos — a 33% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Artesia is more affordable at $213,800 median vs $458,200.

Median household income in Artesia is $77,647 compared to $136,502 in Los Alamos (-43.1%). While Los Alamos is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Artesia spend roughly 13.5% of their income on rent, more than the 11.5% in Los Alamos.