Chaparral, NM vs Los Alamos, NM

The cost of living difference between Chaparral, NM and Los Alamos, NM is dramatic. Chaparral is 39.6% cheaper than Los Alamos, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Chaparral has a cost index of 66 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 Chaparral is $874/month compared to $1,304/month in Los Alamos — a 33% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Chaparral is more affordable at $101,900 median vs $458,200.

Median household income in Chaparral is $46,102 compared to $136,502 in Los Alamos (-66.2%). 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 Chaparral spend roughly 22.7% of their income on rent, more than the 11.5% in Los Alamos.