Midland, TX vs Rio Rancho, NM: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Rio Rancho, NM has a modeled overall cost index 1.7% lower than Midland, TX.

Midland, TX · modeled 2BR rent: $1,740 / month
Rio Rancho, NM · modeled 2BR rent: $1,750 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Midland, TX and Rio Rancho, NM using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Midland, TX

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $241/month in Rio Rancho, NM

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $147,109 in Rio Rancho, NM

Regional cost estimates: Midland, TX uses Lubbock, TX. Rio Rancho, NM uses Albuquerque, NM. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 1.7%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$241

Savings

Annual Impact

$2.9K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Midland, TX

Population:138K

Cost Index:

93.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$345K

Rio Rancho, NM

Population:111K

Cost Index:

91.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$342K

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Midland, TX

The Lone Star State

138K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 138K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

Rio Rancho, NM

The Land of Enchantment

111K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in New Mexico, this city has a population of 111K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Midland, TX vs Rio Rancho, NM

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Midland, TX	Rio Rancho, NM	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,219/mo	$2,085/mo	↓ $134less	6.0%
Transportation	$1,415/mo	$1,356/mo	↓ $58.80less	4.2%
Groceries	$1,005/mo	$990/mo	↓ $15.67less	1.6%
Healthcare	$576/mo	$562/mo	↓ $13.43less	2.3%
All Utilities	$532/mo	$519/mo	↓ $13.19less	2.5%
Other	$1,753/mo	$1,747/mo	↓ $6.32less	0.4%

Housing

↓ 6.0%

Midland, TX

$2,219

Rio Rancho, NM

$2,085

Difference

$134

less

Transportation

↓ 4.2%

Midland, TX

$1,415

Rio Rancho, NM

$1,356

Difference

$58.80

less

Groceries

↓ 1.6%

Midland, TX

$1,005

Rio Rancho, NM

$990

Difference

$15.67

less

Healthcare

↓ 2.3%

Midland, TX

$576

Rio Rancho, NM

$562

Difference

$13.43

less

All Utilities

↓ 2.5%

Midland, TX

$532

Rio Rancho, NM

$519

Difference

$13.19

less

Other

↓ 0.4%

Midland, TX

$1,753

Rio Rancho, NM

$1,747

Difference

$6.32

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,430

To$1,210

↓ $220

1 Bed

From$1,440

To$1,420

↓ $20.00

2 Bed

From$1,740

To$1,750

↑ $10.00

3 Bed

From$2,230

To$2,430

↑ $200

Midland, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,440–$1,600/mo

Rio Rancho, NMZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,420–$1,420/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Midland, TX

$7,259

Monthly in Rio Rancho, NM

$241

Difference

Home Values

Midland

Rio Rancho

$345K

Median Value

$342K

↑ +3.1%

YoY Change

↑ +0.5%

↑ +14.7%

5-Year Change

↑ +44%

$211K - $409K

Price Range

$342K

Homes in Rio Rancho are 1% less expensive than Midland

Calculate payment - Midland Calculate payment - Rio Rancho

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $7.1K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$589

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

4.7%

Rate difference

Midland, TX

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Texas State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Rio Rancho, NM

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

New Mexico State Tax

Effective: 4.7%

$7.1K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.4%

$44.1K

Take-Home Pay

$8,826/month

$105.9K

Additional Tax Information

Midland, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%

Property Tax:1.8%

Rio Rancho, NM Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.6%

Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Midland

Rio Rancho

23 Good

Air Quality

61 Moderate

92.2%

Good Air Days

27.3%

96 High

Climate Risk

94 High

☀🌪💨

Top Hazards

🌊

▲+3.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

78 days

Heat Days >95°F

63 days

▲+3.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

78 days

Heat Days >95°F

63 days

Before moving from Midland, TX to Rio Rancho, NM

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Rio Rancho, NM for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Midland, TX. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Midland to Rio Rancho moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Rio Rancho, NM by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Midland, TX vs Rio Rancho, NM

How do the cost estimates for Midland, TX and Rio Rancho, NM compare?

Rio Rancho, NM has a modeled overall cost index 1.7% lower than Midland, TX. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Midland, TX, the model estimates $147,109 in Rio Rancho, NM. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Midland, TX and Rio Rancho, NM?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,740/month in Midland, TX and $1,750/month in Rio Rancho, NM. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Texas and New Mexico on TaxTakeHome.com