Bernalillo County, NM at a glance
Median household income
$69,473$5,789 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Bernalillo County, NM?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Bernalillo County, NM? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Albuquerque, NM MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,009 | $12,108 | $40,360 | 17.4% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,185 | $14,220 | $47,400 | 20.5% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,464 | $17,568 | $58,560 | 25.3% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,036 | $24,432 | $81,440 | 35.2% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,399 | $28,788 | $95,960 | 41.4% |
Rent in Bernalillo County, NM, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in Bernalillo County, NM
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $69,473 a year ($5,789 a month before tax).
What $69,473 leaves after New Mexico taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and New Mexico tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in New Mexico
Living in Bernalillo County, NM: common questions
What is the median household income in Bernalillo County, NM?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Bernalillo County, NM is $69,473 per year (approximately $5,789 per month).
What is the average rent in Bernalillo County, NM?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,009 for a studio, $1,185 for one bedroom, $1,464 for two, $2,036 for three and $2,399 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Bernalillo County, NM expensive to live in?
Prices there run 4.5% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 95.5, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Bernalillo County, NM?
To keep a $1,464 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $58,560 a year, or $4,880 a month. That is 84% of what the typical household in Bernalillo County, NM earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Bernalillo County, NM?
On the local median income of $69,473 ($5,789 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,895 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,737 for everything else and $1,158 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,464 takes 51% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Bernalillo County, NM?
Homes in New Mexico paid 15.1¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $136. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.