Portales, NM vs Levelland, TX: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Levelland, TX has a modeled overall cost index 1.8% lower than Portales, NM.

Portales, NM · modeled 2BR rent
$980 / month
Levelland, TX · modeled 2BR rent
$970 / 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 Portales, NM and Levelland, TX 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

$
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Estimated savings: $118/month in Levelland, TX

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $148,588 in Levelland, TX

Regional cost estimates: Portales, NM uses Lubbock, TX. Levelland, TX uses Lubbock, TX. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 1.8%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$118
Savings
Annual Impact
$1.4K
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.

Portales, NM

Population:12K
Cost Index:
82.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$141K

Levelland, TX

Population:13K
Cost Index:
80.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$158K

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Portales, NM

The Land of Enchantment

12K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in New Mexico, this city has a population of 12K residents.

Levelland, TX

The Lone Star State

13K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 13K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Portales, NM vs Levelland, TX

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.

Housing
↓ 1.8%
Portales, NM
$2,019
Levelland, TX
$1,982
Difference
$37.32
less
Other
↓ 1.8%
Portales, NM
$1,773
Levelland, TX
$1,740
Difference
$32.77
less
Transportation
↓ 1.8%
Portales, NM
$1,431
Levelland, TX
$1,404
Difference
$26.45
less
Groceries
↓ 0.9%
Portales, NM
$1,083
Levelland, TX
$1,073
Difference
$10.06
less
Healthcare
↓ 0.9%
Portales, NM
$621
Levelland, TX
$615
Difference
$5.76
less
All Utilities
↓ 0.9%
Portales, NM
$573
Levelland, TX
$568
Difference
$5.32
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$730
To$850
↑ $120
1 Bed
From$780
To$850
↑ $70.00
2 Bed
From$980
To$970
↓ $10.00
3 Bed
From$1,360
To$1,350
↓ $10.00
Portales, NMZIP-level data

1BR range: $780–$780/mo

Levelland, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $850–$850/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 Portales, NM
$7,382
Monthly in Levelland, TX
$118
Difference

Home Values

Portales
Levelland
$141K
Median Value
$158K
↓ -1.1%
YoY Change
↑ +0.6%
↑ +3.2%
5-Year Change
↑ +7.9%

Homes in Levelland are 12% more expensive than Portales

Calculate payment - PortalesCalculate payment - Levelland

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $7.1K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$589
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
4.7%
Rate difference

Portales, 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

Levelland, TX

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Texas State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Portales, NM Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.6%
Property Tax:0.8%

Levelland, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.8%

💡 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

Portales
Levelland
23 Good
Air Quality
23 Good
92.2%
Good Air Days
92.2%
96 High
Climate Risk
96 High
☀🌪💨
Top Hazards
☀🌪💨
▲+3.2°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.2°F
78 days
Heat Days >95°F
78 days
▲+3.2°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.2°F
78 days
Heat Days >95°F
78 days

Before moving from Portales, NM to Levelland, TX

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Levelland, TX for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Portales, NM. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Portales to Levelland moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Levelland, TX by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Portales, NM vs Levelland, TX

How do the cost estimates for Portales, NM and Levelland, TX compare?

Levelland, TX has a modeled overall cost index 1.8% lower than Portales, NM. 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 Portales, NM, the model estimates $148,588 in Levelland, TX. 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 Portales, NM and Levelland, TX?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $980/month in Portales, NM and $970/month in Levelland, TX. 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 New Mexico and Texas on TaxTakeHome.com

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