| Index | Gallup | New Mexico | National |
| Cost of living | 91 | 94 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Health care | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Housing | 75 | 85 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 95 | 96 | 100 |
| Household Items | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 95 | 96 | 100 |
The cost of living in Gallup affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Gallup is 91, which is 9% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
Everyday expenditures like food, housing, lifestyle expenses, transportation and health care in Gallup are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Gallup can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.
Is Gallup affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Gallup, for instance, where the median home price falls 24% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 28.3% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Gallup flaunting a median household income of $68,638, 15.6% lower than the national norm.
Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Gallup, the transportation index is 2.4% lower than the national average.
Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Gallup, the utilities index registers 4% lower than the national average.
Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.
The cost of living data for Gallup shown above is based on a U.S. average baseline score of 100, making it easier to compare how far your dollar may go from one city to another. Housing uses U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all remaining values are AI-assisted estimates informed by regional pricing, climate, transportation dynamics, and local economic factors. These scores are best used for directional comparisons between cities.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $87,570 | $7,298 | $2,043 | $2,627 |
| Renters | $39,462 | $3,289 | $921 | $1,184 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| New Mexico | 5% | 8.688% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| New Mexico | 1.7% | 5.9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Rock Springs, NM | 1,201 | 98 | 2.3% |
| Twin Lakes, NM | 1,157 | 79 | 21.2% |
| Yah-ta-hey, NM | 650 | 79 | 20.6% |
| Church Rock, NM | 1,404 | 80 | 20.3% |
| Gallup, NM | 22,253 | 91 | 9.2% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Yucca Valley, CA | 22,259 | 112 | 11.6% |
| South Euclid, OH | 22,242 | 90 | 10.4% |
| Mont-Royal, QC | 22,238 | n/a | |
| Ballenger Creek, MD | 22,229 | 124 | 23.6% |
| Perrysburg, OH | 22,288 | 103 | 3.3% |
| Gallup, NM | 22,253 | 91 | 9.2% |
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