Cost of living comparison
California is 51.9% more expensive than New Mexico.
- Restaurants
-
pay 19.0% more in California
- Groceries
-
pay 24.2% more in California
- Transportation
-
pay 38.4% more in California
- Housing
-
pay 42.2% more in California
- Childcare
-
pay 3.2 times more in California
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 16.1% more in California
- Clothing
-
pay 0.2% more in California
The cost of childcare, housing, transportation, groceries, restaurants, and entertainment and sports in California are more expensive than in New Mexico. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in California.
If you lived in California instead of New Mexico, you would:
pay 19.0% more for restaurants
|
New Mexico
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$17.40
|
$21.02
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$8.80
|
$11.52
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.53
|
$2.71
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.84
|
$2.16
|
|
pay 24.2% more for groceries
|
New Mexico
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.89
|
$4.14
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.59
|
$6.95
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.70
|
$4.61
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.28
|
$4.33
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.55
|
$5.70
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$2.34
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.67
|
$0.92
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.35
|
$1.91
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.67
|
$2.38
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.92
|
$1.39
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.23
|
$1.44
|
|
pay 38.4% more for transportation
|
New Mexico
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.16
|
$4.83
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$32.00
|
$62.05
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$34,466.85
|
$30,005.28
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$16.70
|
$20.07
|
|
pay 42.2% more for housing
|
New Mexico
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$75.22
|
$68.54
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,396.70
|
$2,371.29
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,184.76
|
$2,055.18
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$127.88
|
$171.68
|
|
pay 3.2 times more for childcare
|
New Mexico
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,076.67
|
$1,682.51
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$6,300.00
|
$30,905.75
|
|
pay 16.1% more for entertainment and sports
|
New Mexico
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.40
|
$7.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.52
|
$5.34
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.25
|
$10.91
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$74.19
|
$66.35
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$11.50
|
$14.41
|
|
pay 0.2% more for clothing
|
New Mexico
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.78
|
$52.77
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$40.25
|
$40.15
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$92.10
|
$85.15
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$112.23
|
$117.31
|
|
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