Chaparral, NM vs Portales, NM

Chaparral, NM and Portales, NM have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.5% difference in their overall index. Chaparral scores 66 while Portales scores 69 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Chaparral is $874/month compared to $870/month in Portales — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Portales has cheaper rent, Chaparral actually has lower median home values ($101,900 vs $132,900).

Median household income in Chaparral is $46,102 compared to $51,290 in Portales (-10.1%). While Portales 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 20.4% in Portales.