State relocation profile · Federal data
New Mexico
New Mexico sits in the cheaper third of BEA RPP states, rent, wages, safety, schools and childcare below.
- 92.2
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,129
- 2BR rent / mo
- $68,120
- Median salary
- 53.1
- Life Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, New Mexico ranks #18 of 51 scored US states on the composite Life Score (53.1/100, D), with its strongest marks in environment and cost of living.
- #18 of 51
- Life Score among scored states
- 53.1
- Life Score · D
- 92.2
- Cost of living (US=100)
- $68,120
- Median annual salary (BLS)
Weakest dimension: safety (2/100). State-level figures are a benchmark, individual metros can diverge sharply, so weigh each dimension against your own priorities.
According to PlainRelocate's state Life Score composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, DOL, and EPA inputs), New Mexico ranks #18 of 51 scored US states by Life Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 92.2 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,129/mo, median salary $68,120; Life Score 53.1/100 (D), strongest in environment and cost of living.
Signature: New Mexico lists 4 MSAs; statewide figures still mask metro-to-metro swings.
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 92.2 lands in the cheaper third of US states (cuts at 93.3 / 100.7). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent averages $1,129/mo statewide, against a BLS median salary of $68,120.
Composite Life Score 53.1/100 (D) sits mid-pack (#18 of 51).
Metro book is mid-sized (4 MSAs); state averages still hide corridor-level rent and wage gaps.
Life Score plate
Sheet NM · New Mexico 53.1/100 · D · #18 of 51
LIFE-D · RANK-UPPER · PHOTO-FINISH · RPP-CHEAP · LEAD-ENVIRO · BOOK-MOST
- LIFE-D Life Score D
- RANK-UPPER #18/51
- PHOTO-FINISH ±0.1 pts
- RPP-CHEAP RPP 92.2
- LEAD-ENVIRO Lead · environment
- BOOK-MOST 6/7 dims
Nearest Life Score peer: Ohio ( -0.1 pts)
Instrument codes from this state’s Life Score grade, corpus rank, peer gap, BEA RPP posture, lead dimension, and dimension book, not a moving recommendation.
Life Score neighbourhood around New Mexico
Lowest/highest poles plus states nearest New Mexico on composite Life Score. Full ladder: /rankings/.
New Mexico Life Score breakdown
New Mexico composites to 53.1/100 (D) across 6 of 7 dimensions (missing dims omitted; remaining weights renormalized); corpus place #18 of 51.
New Mexico - Life Score dimensions
Percentile vs all US states (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Environment
Environment
98 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
72 /100
- Rent
Rent
58 /100
- Schools
Schools
50 /100
- Wages
Wages
48 /100
- Safety 2
Safety
2 /100
What this shows New Mexico's strongest dimensions are environment and cost of living; its weakest among scored dims is safety at 2/100. Each dimension is a federal-data percentile; the composite folds 6 of 7 into one comparable figure.
States near New Mexico on cost or Life Score
Nearest neighbors to New Mexico on BEA RPP or composite Life Score, a different lens than the in-state metro list below.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Metros in New Mexico
Explore detailed relocation data for 4 metropolitan areas in New Mexico. New Mexico contains 4 metropolitan statistical areas in our dataset - Albuquerque, Farmington, Las Cruces and more - each with its own rent, wage and crime profile that can diverge sharply from the statewide average.
Albuquerque metro · Compare metros · Cost vs quality · Methodology
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
New Mexico cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; New Mexico wages and safety follow BLS OEWS and FBI UCR. Research use only, verify at the agency source before you move.