Española, NM vs Los Alamos, NM

The cost of living difference between Española, NM and Los Alamos, NM is dramatic. Española is 31.8% cheaper than Los Alamos, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Española has a cost index of 75 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 Española is $832/month compared to $1,304/month in Los Alamos — a 36% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Española is more affordable at $205,100 median vs $458,200.

Median household income in Española is $47,664 compared to $136,502 in Los Alamos (-65.1%). 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 Española spend roughly 20.9% of their income on rent, more than the 11.5% in Los Alamos.