Studio Apartment Rent in Portales, NM
Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Portales, New Mexico as of July 2026. That's +21% lower than the citywide median of $862 and +47% below the national studio median of $1,290.
Income needed for a studio in Portales
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a studio at the current median rent.
Rent by apartment size in Portales
Compare Portales's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a studio in New Mexico
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alamogordo | $640 |
| 2 | Clovis | $670 |
| 3 | Portales (this page) | $680 |
| 4 | Roswell | $750 |
| 5 | Silver City | $770 |
| 6 | Carlsbad | $790 |
| 7 | Las Cruces | $800 |
| 8 | Santa Teresa | $800 |
| 9 | Hobbs | $810 |
| 10 | Farmington | $890 |
| 11 | Albuquerque | $949 |
| 12 | Los Lunas | $970 |
| 13 | Los Alamos | $990 |
| 14 | Rio Rancho | $1,165 |
| 15 | Santa Fe | $1,283 |
Most expensive cities for a studio in New Mexico
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Fe | $1,283 |
| 2 | Rio Rancho | $1,165 |
| 3 | Los Alamos | $990 |
| 4 | Los Lunas | $970 |
| 5 | Albuquerque | $949 |
| 6 | Farmington | $890 |
| 7 | Hobbs | $810 |
| 8 | Santa Teresa | $800 |
| 9 | Las Cruces | $800 |
| 10 | Carlsbad | $790 |
| 11 | Silver City | $770 |
| 12 | Roswell | $750 |
| 13 | Portales (this page) | $680 |
| 14 | Clovis | $670 |
| 15 | Alamogordo | $640 |
Nearby cities — studio rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 1 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than Portales.
| City | Distance | Studio rent | vs Portales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clovis, NM | 25.6 mi | $670 | $-10 (-1%) |
| Roswell, NM | 82.8 mi | $750 | +$70 (+10%) |
| Hobbs, NM | 99.2 mi | $810 | +$130 (+19%) |
| Wolfforth, TX | 100.1 mi | $910 | +$230 (+34%) |
| Lubbock, TX | 104.7 mi | $827 | +$147 (+22%) |
| Canyon, TX | 110.6 mi | $770 | +$90 (+13%) |
| Amarillo, TX | 121.9 mi | $860 | +$180 (+26%) |
| Carlsbad, NM | 147.8 mi | $790 | +$110 (+16%) |
Studio rent in Portales — common questions
How much is a studio apartment in Portales?
As of July 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Portales, New Mexico is $680 per month. This is +21% below the citywide median of $862.
What income do you need to afford a studio in Portales?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $27,200 ($2,267/month gross), which works out to roughly $13.08/hour at a full-time job.
Is Portales expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?
Portales's studio median of $680 is +47% below the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 2th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Portales rank for studio rent in New Mexico?
Among the 15 cities in New Mexico with studio data, Portales ranks #3 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper studio options near Portales?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include Clovis ($670).