2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Rio Rancho, NM vs Ridgecrest, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Ridgecrest or is it cheaper to live in Rio Rancho?
- Ridgecrest is 5.2% more expensive than Rio Rancho.

Which city has more affordable housing, Ridgecrest or Rio Rancho?
- Ridgecrest housing costs are 5.1% less expensive than Rio Rancho housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Rio Rancho or is Health Care more affordable in Ridgecrest.
- Health related expenses are 15.7% more in Ridgecrest.
 Rio Rancho, NMRidgecrest, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock99.8100
 Food & Groceries95.4  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock92.7100
 Housing87.1  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$245,600$338,100
 Utilities100  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock101.6100
 Miscellaneous106.3  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Rio Rancho    21 Reviews

I have lived in the area for the past three years with my husband. Although vastly better than Albuquerque, this is not a safe area. We have had overt and petty crime on  More

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The pros: -Fairly good year-round weather. Sunny days outnumber cloudy days, there are days when the temps fall below freezing and the sun will still be shining. It's  More

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Over 5 years ago

Affordable housing, low crime (compared to Albuquerque), awesome weather with all 4 seasons, beautiful environment and some pretty awesome people. I love Rio Rancho,  More

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Reviews for Ridgecrest    7 Reviews

For context, I grew up in Ridgecrest and moved away after graduating high school. I have since lived in LA and the Bay Area but I visit RC often. RC is in the high  More

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Ridgecrest and Kern County are red state bastions in a land of blue voting counties. If you want a concealed weapons permit, you'll get it. Want to own any firearm  More

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Over 13 years ago

The hardest thing to get used to in Ridgecrest is the weather. It can get quite windy. And hot. 115 hot. But it's a dry heat! It does cool off in the evening, and it  More

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