La Plata, NM vs San Jose CDP (Rio Arriba County), NM

La Plata, NM and San Jose CDP (Rio Arriba County), NM have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.1% difference in their overall index. La Plata scores 76 while San Jose CDP (Rio Arriba County) scores 77 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 La Plata is $1,000/month compared to $775/month in San Jose CDP (Rio Arriba County) — a 29% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while San Jose CDP (Rio Arriba County) has cheaper rent, La Plata actually has lower median home values ($187,000 vs $250,400).

Median household income in La Plata is $54,801 compared to $57,019 in San Jose CDP (Rio Arriba County) (-3.9%). While San Jose CDP (Rio Arriba County) is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of La Plata spend roughly 21.9% of their income on rent, more than the 16.3% in San Jose CDP (Rio Arriba County).