Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Los Alamos, NM?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.3% of gross income.
Los Alamos rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Mexico state estimate).
About rent and a registered nurse salary
Rent is the single largest fixed cost most renters carry, and the rent-to-income ratio is the simplest measure of whether a city is livable on a given salary. For renters earning a typical registered-nurse income, the 30% rule supports about $2,360 a month in rent. That margin covers comfortable one-bedroom rent in the vast majority of US metros but tightens significantly in the highest-rent coastal cities, where rent can claim 40% or more of an RN paycheck. The per-city pages below show the local rent, the local nurse-pay estimate, and where that combination sits on the affordability scale.
Cheaper rent nearby
These New Mexico cities have lower median rent than Los Alamos, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:
Compare with full rent data for Los Alamos
View full rent data for Los Alamos, NM →Frequently asked questions
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Los Alamos, NM?
Median rent in Los Alamos is $2,645 a month. A typical registered nurse in New Mexico earns about $85,032 a year, which makes that rent 37.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Los Alamos?
Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in New Mexico (~$85,032/yr) supports up to $2,126 a month in rent. Los Alamos's current median rent is $2,645/mo, which is $519/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in Los Alamos?
At an hourly equivalent of about $41 an hour, a registered nurse in New Mexico works roughly 64.7 hours a month to cover Los Alamos's median rent of $2,645.
Where is rent cheaper than Los Alamos for a registered nurse?
Nearby New Mexico cities with lower median rent include Artesia ($2,631/mo), Artesia ($2,583/mo), Artesia ($2,573/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.