Cost of Living in Los Alamos, NM
| Cost of Living in Los Alamos, NM | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 19% higher | 11% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 4% higher | 11% lower |
| Food | 1% lower | 5% lower |
| Healthcare | 2% lower | 0% |
| Transportation | 7% higher | 2% higher |
| Goods & Services | 8% higher | 6% higher |
The cost of living in Los Alamos, NM is 9% higher than the state average and 4% higher than the national average. Los Alamos, NM housing is 11% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 11% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 5% cheaper in Los Alamos, NM than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 6% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 0% here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 6% pricier in Los Alamos, NM.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Los Alamos is $1,992, while home prices circle around $629,393.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Los Alamos, energy bills cost around $171.04 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $3.96 in Los Alamos, a dozen eggs go for around $5.27 and a pound of potatoes circles around $3.36.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Los Alamos, an optometry check-up costs around $137.53, while a dentist appointment is priced $128.65 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $2.77 in Los Alamos, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $82.14.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $39.64 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $42.40.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Los Alamos, you should budget around $13.26 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $34.07, while dry cleaning costs about $27.20.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Los Alamos, the median household income is $136,502.