States › New Mexico › Ruidoso

Is Ruidoso, NM expensive to live in?

ExpensiveRent takes 31 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,48016% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$56,876about $4,740/month · 35% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$243,80027% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 59% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 4.3 years of household income. Commutes are short, about 14.2 minutes.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $59,200 a year. That is $28 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other New Mexico cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of New Mexico. It is number 37 of 44 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Ruidoso
$1,480
Shiprock
$461
Belen
$1,148
Bloomfield
$1,271
Socorro
$1,308
Corrales
$1,212
Anthony
$961

How much do households earn in Ruidoso?

Under $25k
26.7%
$25k–50k
22.7%
$50k–100k
30.7%
$100k–150k
6.1%
$150k+
6.0%

Share of households by yearly income. 12.1% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Ruidoso

SizeRuidosoU.S. average
Studio$876$1,338
1 bedroom$756$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,154$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,119$1,698

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

How expensive is Ruidoso 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 Ruidoso, so the New Mexico figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Ruidoso

🏛️ Property tax$1,579a year · 0.65% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$101a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Ruidoso

Commute to work14.2 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree35.4%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home68.4%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line20.6%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment3.3%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Ruidoso?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $212 a month less.

Renting
$1,480
Owning
$1,692

Owning assumes a typical $243,800 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $24,380 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Ruidoso, NM?

Renting in Ruidoso costs a median of about $1,480 a month in 2026, including utilities. The New Mexico median is $1,181.

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

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $59,200 a year, or $28 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Ruidoso cheap or expensive?

Ruidoso is rated Expensive: rent takes 31.2% of the typical household income of $56,876. It ranks 37th cheapest of 44 New Mexico cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Ruidoso?

The median homeowner in Ruidoso pays $1,579 a year in property taxes, about 0.65% of the median home value.

Is Ruidoso 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 Ruidoso?

The median home value in Ruidoso is $243,800, about 4.3 times the typical yearly household income.

7,699 people live in Ruidoso. Numbers are typical (middle) values.