Cost of living comparison
New Mexico is 21.2% cheaper than California.
- Restaurants
-
pay 15.5% less in New Mexico
- Groceries
-
pay 17.1% less in New Mexico
- Transportation
-
pay 21.2% less in New Mexico
- Housing
-
pay 24.8% less in New Mexico
- Childcare
-
pay 57.8% less in New Mexico
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 12.3% less in New Mexico
- Clothing
-
pay 0.1% more in New Mexico
Expenses including childcare, housing, transportation, groceries, restaurants, and entertainment and sports are lower in New Mexico.
If you lived in New Mexico instead of California, you would:
pay 15.5% less for restaurants
|
California
|
New Mexico
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$21.02
|
$17.40
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.52
|
$8.80
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.71
|
$2.53
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.16
|
$1.84
|
|
pay 17.1% less for groceries
|
California
|
New Mexico
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$4.14
|
$2.89
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.95
|
$6.59
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.61
|
$3.70
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.33
|
$3.28
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.70
|
$4.55
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.34
|
$2.19
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.92
|
$0.67
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.91
|
$2.35
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.38
|
$1.67
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.39
|
$0.92
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.44
|
$1.23
|
|
pay 21.2% less for transportation
|
California
|
New Mexico
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.83
|
$3.16
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$62.05
|
$32.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$30,005.28
|
$34,466.85
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$20.07
|
$16.70
|
|
pay 24.8% less for housing
|
California
|
New Mexico
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$68.54
|
$75.22
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,371.29
|
$1,396.70
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$2,055.18
|
$1,184.76
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$171.68
|
$127.88
|
|
pay 57.8% less for childcare
|
California
|
New Mexico
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,682.51
|
$1,076.67
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$30,905.75
|
$6,300.00
|
|
pay 12.3% less for entertainment and sports
|
California
|
New Mexico
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$7.00
|
$5.40
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.34
|
$4.52
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$10.91
|
$9.25
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$66.35
|
$74.19
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$14.41
|
$11.50
|
|
pay 0.1% more for clothing
|
California
|
New Mexico
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$52.77
|
$50.78
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$40.15
|
$40.25
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$85.15
|
$92.10
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$117.31
|
$112.23
|
|
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