New Mexico vs California: taxes, cost of living, laws

New Mexico

Moderate tax burden · COL index 91

Wins 9 categories

California

Moderate tax burden · COL index 142

Wins 5 categories

California's top income tax rate is 13.3% vs New Mexico's 5.9%. Cost of living in California (index 142) runs 56% higher than New Mexico (index 91). The median home in California costs $790K vs $330K in New Mexico.

New Mexico

California

Taxes

5.9%

Income Tax (top rate)

13.3%

0.55%/yr

Property Tax Rate

0.71%/yr

7.82%

Sales Tax (avg)

8.82%

Yes

Social Security Tax

Yes

Estate Tax

Yes

As income

Capital Gains Tax

As income

Housing & Cost of Living

COL Index (100=avg)

142

$330K

Median Home Price

$790K

$1,250/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$2,300/mo

$2K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$2K/yr

Crime & Safety

778

Violent Crime / 100K

499

3,286

Property Crime / 100K

2,027

130

Sex Offenders / 100K

155

217

Homeless / 100K

475

Healthcare

#49 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#13 of 50

74.1 yrs

Life Expectancy

79.2 yrs

9.2%

Uninsured Rate

6.8%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#46 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#20 of 50

School Choice / Vouchers

Childcare

$950/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$2,200/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$115/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$175/mo

$460/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$620/mo

#29 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#49 of 50

Social Policy

B-

Gun Laws Grade

D+10.0

2024 Presidential Margin

D+20.0

Category wins

New Mexico

California

Run the full slider tool to score these states against your specific income, home value, retirement, and lifestyle priorities.

Score For My Profile →