Cost of Living Forum
Cost of Living in Alamosa – Detailed Insights from Long-Term Resident
Hey there, fellow Alamosans and aspiring residents! As someone who has called this beautiful mountain town home for over a decade, I’ve gained a pretty good understanding of what it costs to live here comfortably. I’m thinking of putting together a comprehensive guide to share with others, so I’d love to get your input and personal experiences.
To give some context, I’m a single professional in my late 30s, living in a modest 2-bedroom apartment close to downtown. I enjoy an active lifestyle, frequently hitting the hiking trails and participating in community events. I also like to treat myself to a nice meal out or a movie every now and then.
So, let’s dive into the nitty-gritty details. What are your monthly expenses for housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and entertainment? How do prices compare to other areas you’ve lived in? What tips do you have for stretching your dollar further in Alamosa? I’m all ears!
10 Replies
Groceries for our family tend to be around $600-$700 per month, which includes stocking up at places like Costco for bulk items. We cook most meals at home to save money. Gas for our two vehicles is usually $150-$200 per month with moderate driving.
Healthcare costs can vary, but our family plan through my employer is about $500 per month with a decent deductible. We budget around $200 per month for entertainment, which covers things like eating out occasionally, movie tickets, and recreational activities like hiking or skiing.
Overall, Alamosa is quite affordable compared to places like Denver or Boulder, especially when it comes to housing. The lower cost of living has allowed us to save more for our kids’ college funds and our eventual retirement. Just be prepared for higher heating costs in the winter!
That said, there are also some fantastic higher-end restaurants in town that are still quite reasonably priced compared to bigger cities. You can get an excellent three-course meal for two, including drinks, at places like [local restaurant name] for around $60-$80 total.
Groceries are pretty standard, with places like City Market and Walmart offering competitive prices on staples. The local farmers’ markets during summer and fall are also great for stocking up on fresh, locally-grown produce at reasonable rates.
My biggest gripe is probably the limited nightlife and entertainment options, but that’s to be expected in a smaller town. Catching a movie at the local theater will set you back $10-$12 per ticket. Concerts and shows tend to be on the pricier side when touring acts come through, but there are also plenty of free community events throughout the year.
An annual pass for the nearby national forests and parks is usually around $80, which gives you access to countless miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and more. Camping permits for dispersed camping in the forests are often free or very cheap.
Gear and equipment can be an investment upfront, but places like [local outdoor shop] offer great deals on gently used items. I’ve also had good luck finding steals on sites like GearTrade for things like hiking boots, tents, and backpacks.
Gas is relatively inexpensive here, so road trips to explore different parts of the Rockies don’t put too much strain on the wallet either. Just be sure to budget for a good set of winter tires if you plan on hitting the slopes or venturing out in snowy conditions.
Utilities, groceries, and healthcare premiums are all very manageable on a fixed income. I budget around $150 per month for utilities, $300 for groceries (taking advantage of senior discounts where possible), and around $250 for my Medicare supplement plan.
Entertainment is where I tend to splurge a bit, as I love supporting the local arts scene, catching live music performances, and taking day trips to explore the stunning natural surroundings. But even with an active social life, I rarely spend more than $300-$400 per month in this category.
Overall, the relatively low cost of living in Alamosa has allowed me to truly enjoy my retirement years without constant financial stress. The friendly community and beautiful mountain setting are just bonus perks!
I keep my grocery bills reasonably low by taking advantage of store sales, sticking to a mostly plant-based diet, and minimizing food waste. I’d estimate I spend around $200-$250 per month on food.
Transportation is another area where I save quite a bit. I bike or walk most places around town, so I only need to budget about $60 per month for gas and maintenance on my used car. I don’t have a ton of major medical expenses yet, so a basic health insurance plan through my employer runs me around $150 per month.
For entertainment, I take advantage of all the free outdoor activities in the area, like hiking, picnicking in the parks, and checking out community events. I also love finding budget-friendly ways to explore the local arts and culture scene, like attending discounted theatre performances or browsing galleries during free admission hours.
My biggest monthly cost is rent on a small studio apartment close to downtown, which runs around $600 per month including utilities. Groceries tend to be around $250-$300 per month, cooking most of my meals at home.
I don’t have a car payment, but I do budget $100-$150 per month for gas, insurance, and basic maintenance on my used vehicle. Healthcare is still covered under my parents’ plan for now, so I just pay a small premium.
Entertainment is probably where I have to be the most frugal. I take advantage of free community events, hiking in the beautiful outdoors, and hanging out at local breweries or coffee shops when I want to get out. A night out at the movies or a restaurant is an occasional treat.
It’s definitely a bit of a grind at this stage, but Alamosa’s lower cost of living has made it possible for me to work towards becoming more financially stable without living in total poverty. Having affordable housing options for young professionals is so important!
Our biggest monthly expense is rent, but we were able to find a nice 4-bedroom home just outside of town for around $1,400 per month. Utilities like electricity, water, and internet tend to run us $300-$400. Groceries for our larger family add up to $800-$1,000 per month, doing a mix of shopping at larger chains and local markets.
One area where we do tend to splurge a bit is on recreational activities to keep the kids entertained, like movies, bowling, mini golf, or day trips to nearby parks and trails. But even factoring in $300-$500 per month for entertainment, we’re still able to save a decent amount.
The lower housing costs have been particularly helpful during periods when I’ve had to relocate for temporary duty assignments. We don’t go into debt just to keep a roof over our heads like some higher cost-of-living areas.
Fortunately, housing is relatively affordable here. I rent a charming (albeit tiny) studio apartment downtown for $550 per month, utilities included. My monthly bills for internet, cell phone, and basic subscription services like Netflix tend to total around $150-$200.
Groceries can be a bit tricky since I have to stick to such a tight budget. I try to spend no more than $200 per month by hitting up discount grocery outlets, buying dry goods in bulk, and seeking out manager’s special deals on fresh produce and proteins.
Healthcare is one area where I do splurge a bit by carrying a higher premium individual health insurance plan. It runs me around $350 per month, but having decent coverage gives me peace of mind as a freelancer without employer-sponsored benefits.
Entertainment is where I have to get really creative to have fun without going broke. Taking advantage of free community events, hanging out at parks and coffee shops, attending gallery openings, and hosting potluck dinners with friends are some of my go-to affordable options.
Our biggest monthly expense is our mortgage payment on our 3-bedroom ranch-style home, which runs around $1,500 including taxes and insurance. But compared to similar housing in many parts of the Front Range, we got an incredible deal on our property.
Utilities like electricity, gas, water, internet, and cable/streaming services tend to total $350-$450 per month for our household size. We budget around $600-$700 for groceries, doing a mix of shopping at discount stores and splurging occasionally on higher-end items.
One area we definitely prioritize in our budget is recreation and entertainment, since we value an active family lifestyle. We spend $150-$250 per month on things like youth sports/activities for our son, family visits to museums and local attractions, movie nights, etc.
The affordability of Alamosa living is a big part of why we chose to settle here. It’s allowed our family to save quite a bit while still living comfortably and experiencing everything this beautiful area has to offer!
Our cozy 2-bedroom rental condo right in the heart of downtown runs us $900 per month from May through October. Utilities like electricity tend to be around $100-$150 per month during those warmer months. Groceries for just the two of us average $400-$500 monthly.
Healthcare costs can add up since we don’t have employer-sponsored benefits anymore. We budget $600-$800 per month for premiums, co-pays, and prescription medications. But the overall lower cost of living helps offset those higher medical expenses to some degree.
For transportation, we just keep one vehicle here and use that for local trips and stocking up at places like Costco before heading back to Arizona for the winter. Gas, insurance, and basic maintenance ends up being around $250 monthly on average when we’re in town.
The abundance of free outdoor activities and community events is a major perk of summering in Alamosa. We rarely spend more than $200-$300 per month on entertainment, instead taking advantage of all the natural beauty through hiking, biking, picnicking, and more.
Detailed Price Insights of Abilene, TX
- Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant – 12.00 $
- Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course – 65.00 $
- McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) – 8.00 $
- Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) – 6.00 $
- Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) – 5.50 $
- Cappuccino (regular) – 4.62 $
- Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) – 2.00 $
- Water (0.33 liter bottle) – 1.00 $
- Milk (regular), (1 liter) – 1.01 $
- Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) – 2.84 $
- Rice (white), (1kg) – 3.22 $
- Eggs (regular) (12) – 2.50 $
- Local Cheese (1kg) – 6.61 $
- Chicken Fillets (1kg) – 9.90 $
- Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) – 18.31 $
- Apples (1kg) – 4.51 $
- Banana (1kg) – 1.51 $
- Oranges (1kg) – 3.31 $
- Tomato (1kg) – 1.65 $
- Potato (1kg) – 0.55 $
- Onion (1kg) – 1.10 $
- Lettuce (1 head) – 1.50 $
- Water (1.5 liter bottle) – 1.95 $
- Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) – 11.50 $
- Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) – 1.77 $
- Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) – 3.00 $
- Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) – 9.50 $
- Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) – 3.00 $
- Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) – 1.83 $
- Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) – 29.00 $
- Gasoline (1 liter) – 0.83 $
- Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) – 32,778.08 $
- Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) – 26,088.59 $
- Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment – 140.76 $
- Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data – 44.44 $
- Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) – 71.50 $
- Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat – 12.75 $
- Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child – 1,350.00 $
- International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child – 6,000.00 $
- 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) – 53.33 $
- 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, …) – 60.00 $
- 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) – 94.00 $
- 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes – 117.57 $
- Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) – 7,783.00 $
- Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate – 6.44