La Mesilla, NM vs Taos, NM

La Mesilla is moderately more affordable than Taos, with a 10.3% lower cost of living index. La Mesilla scores 86 compared to 95 for Taos, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Taos can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in La Mesilla is $1,015/month compared to $915/month in Taos — a 11% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Taos has cheaper rent, La Mesilla actually has lower median home values ($266,900 vs $432,700).

Median household income in La Mesilla is $74,385 compared to $46,579 in Taos (+59.7%). La Mesilla offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of La Mesilla spend roughly 16.4% of their income on rent, less than the 23.6% in Taos.