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Española, NM

Cost of living in Rio Arriba County, NM

Estimated monthly cost
$2,636/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 40,165 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $711 27%
Healthcare $480 18%
Federal tax $473 18%
Groceries $326 12%
Transport $320 12%
State tax $136 5%
Energy $130 5%
Water $60 2%

Rent in Rio Arriba County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$707
per month
1 bedroom
$711
per month
2 bedroom
$933
per month
3 bedroom
$1,124
per month
4 bedroom
$1,334
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Rio Arriba County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$53,901
per year
Individual earnings
$38,962
per year
Per capita
$30,548
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Rio Arriba County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$230,900
Annual property tax
$1,000

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Rio Arriba County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$92
per month · 15.4¢/kWh
Natural gas
$38
per month
Annual total
$1,560
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Rio Arriba County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
9.2%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Rio Arriba County

State and local tax rates for New Mexico.

State income tax
5.9%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
5.0%
Combined sales tax
7.7%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Rio Arriba County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
28.8 min
Drive alone
78.0%
Public transit
0.7%
Work from home
9.3%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Rio Arriba County

What it costs to live in Rio Arriba County each month.

Single person
$2,636
per month
  • Rent $711
  • Energy $130
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $326
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $473
  • State tax $136
Couple
$3,732
per month
  • Rent $933
  • Energy $156
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $540
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $552
  • State tax $197
Family
$6,043
per month
  • Rent $1,124
  • Energy $195
  • Water $85
  • Groceries $820
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $552
  • State tax $197

Frequently asked questions about Rio Arriba County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Rio Arriba County?

In Rio Arriba County, NM, a one-bedroom apartment averages $711 per month, a two-bedroom averages $933 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,124 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Rio Arriba County?

In Rio Arriba County, NM, the average household income is $53,901 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $38,962 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Rio Arriba County?

The estimated cost of living in Rio Arriba County, NM is approximately $2,636 per month for a single person, $3,732 for a couple, $6,043 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Rio Arriba County?

The combined sales tax rate in Rio Arriba County, NM is 7.72%, which includes the New Mexico state rate of 5.00% plus an average local rate of 2.72%.

Is Rio Arriba County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Rio Arriba County, NM would need approximately $2,636 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $53,901 per year ($4,492 per month). Rio Arriba County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Rio Arriba County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Rio Arriba County, NM is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 9.2% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Rio Arriba County?

The average home value in Rio Arriba County, NM is $230,900, with average annual property taxes of $1,000, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Rio Arriba County compare to other areas?

You can compare Rio Arriba County, NM with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Rio Arriba County is in the Española, NM metro area.

Other counties in New Mexico

Browse the full list of counties in New Mexico, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in New Mexico

Compare Rio Arriba County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources