| Index | Las Cruces | New Mexico | National |
| Cost of living | 95 | 94 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Health care | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Housing | 87 | 85 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 96 | 96 | 100 |
| Household Items | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 100 | 96 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Las Cruces? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Las Cruces stands at 95, making it 5% lower than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
The cost of living in Las Cruces closely mirrors the national average in comparison to other cities nationwide. Essential items such as groceries, houshold expenses, health care and utilities are priced at a level consistent with similar urban areas. This means that residents of Las Cruces can anticipate that their daily expenses will remain reasonably in line with those of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.
Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 15 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Las Cruces and this is how they responded. 33% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 67% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.
Is Las Cruces affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Las Cruces, for instance, where the median home price falls 12.5% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 14.4% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Las Cruces flaunting a median household income of $66,606, 18.1% lower than the national norm.
Transportation: When public transportation options are limited or non-existent, residents frequently resort to vehicle ownership, which can significantly contribute to the overall cost of living. Monthly financial obligations encompass fuel, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or financing expenses. In Las Cruces, the transportation index is 0.5% higher than the national average.
Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Las Cruces, the housing index comes in at 13.1% lower than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Las Cruces, the groceries index is 3.8% lower than the national average.
The Las Cruces cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
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| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
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| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $97,238 | $8,103 | $2,269 | $2,917 |
| Renters | $36,190 | $3,016 | $844 | $1,086 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| New Mexico | 5% | 8.688% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| New Mexico | 1.7% | 5.9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Pecan Park, NM | 457 | 98 | 2.1% |
| Cañon, NM | 177 | 98 | 2.1% |
| La Mesa, NM | 659 | 82 | 18.4% |
| Mesquite, NM | 921 | 83 | 17.2% |
| Radium Springs, NM | 1,520 | 84 | 16.1% |
| Las Cruces, NM | 106,024 | 95 | 5.4% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| San Mateo, CA | 106,097 | 249 | 148.8% |
| Strathcona County, AB | 106,316 | n/a | |
| Rialto, CA | 106,524 | 133 | 32.5% |
| El Cajon, CA | 105,484 | 150 | 50.0% |
| Burbank, CA | 106,568 | 191 | 90.5% |
| Las Cruces, NM | 106,024 | 95 | 5.4% |
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