States › New Mexico › Belen

Is Belen, NM expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 30 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,14835% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$45,973about $3,831/month · 47% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$166,10050% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 79% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.6 years of household income.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $45,920 a year. That is $22 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other New Mexico cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of New Mexico. It is number 20 of 44 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Belen
$1,148
Bloomfield
$1,271
Shiprock
$461
Ruidoso
$1,480
Socorro
$1,308
Corrales
$1,212
Taos
$2,448

How much do households earn in Belen?

Under $25k
23.0%
$25k–50k
28.8%
$50k–100k
28.6%
$100k–150k
6.9%
$150k+
2.0%

Share of households by yearly income. 8.9% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Belen

SizeBelenU.S. average
2 bedrooms$939$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,164$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Belen overall?

Everyday prices in New Mexico overall are 8% below the U.S. average (index 92.2, U.S. = 100).

Housing
74
Goods (food, clothes…)
96
Utilities
78
Other services
99
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Belen, so the New Mexico figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Belen

🏛️ Property tax$1,216a year · 0.73% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$103a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Belen

Commute to work25.9 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree13.6%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home73.2%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line31.2%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment8%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Belen?

About the same. Renting and owning cost within $5 of each other each month.

Renting
$1,148
Owning
$1,153

Owning assumes a typical $166,100 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $16,610 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Belen, NM?

Renting in Belen costs a median of about $1,148 a month in 2026, including utilities. The New Mexico median is $1,181.

How much do I need to make to live in Belen?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $45,920 a year, or $22 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Belen cheap or expensive?

Belen is rated OK: rent takes 30.0% of the typical household income of $45,973. It ranks 20th cheapest of 44 New Mexico cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Belen?

The median homeowner in Belen pays $1,216 a year in property taxes, about 0.73% of the median home value.

Is Belen more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in New Mexico are 8% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Belen?

The median home value in Belen is $166,100, about 3.6 times the typical yearly household income.

7,450 people live in Belen. Numbers are typical (middle) values.