Cost of living index

Las Cruces, NM

90.2 / 100

Living in Las Cruces, NM is 9.8% cheaper than the US average — the #285 of 387 highest nationally.

Median rent: $903/mo

Median home value: $205,400

Figures — including the cost index, median rent, and median home value — cover the wider Las Cruces, NM metropolitan area, not individual neighbourhoods or city boundaries.

Winter
58° / 24°F
(14° / -4°C)
1.6 in precip
Spring
77° / 39°F
(25° / 4°C)
0.8 in precip
Summer
93° / 63°F
(34° / 17°C)
5.3 in precip
Fall
76° / 43°F
(24° / 6°C)
2.5 in precip

30-year climate normals (1991–2020) from LAS CRUCES 20 N, via NOAA.

The Las Cruces, NM metro area has an overall price level of 90.2 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 9.8% lower than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 63.0 it is 37.0% below the national average. Housing rents are often one of the largest sources of difference between metro areas, so this figure can have a significant impact when comparing locations.

Overall#285 of 387
90.2
Goods#242 of 387
96.1
Housing rents#311 of 387
63.0
Utilities#328 of 387
77.9
Other services#225 of 387
98.5

Las Cruces, NM is moved down the most by housing rents, at 63.0 vs a US average of 100, while the closest to average is other services.

Browse New Mexico →See the cheapest and most expensive US metros →

Figures on this page come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities dataset, 2024 — the most recent year published. An index of 100 marks the national average; a metro above 100 has higher prices than a typical US metro, below 100 lower. Median rent and median home value are from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-year estimates, and seasonal weather is from NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals. These are regional figures only, not a complete personal budget — they don’t account for individual spending habits, taxes, or household circumstances. See the full methodology for how the index and salary-equivalent estimates are calculated.

Compare My City is an independent project and is not operated by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Census Bureau, or NOAA.

Is Las Cruces, NM an expensive place to live?

Las Cruces, NM has an overall cost-of-living index of 90.2, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 9.8% cheaper than the country as a whole.

Is housing expensive in Las Cruces, NM?

Housing rents in Las Cruces, NM score 63.0 against a US average of 100 — roughly 37.0% below average. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

How does Las Cruces, NM compare to the US average cost of living?

Overall prices in Las Cruces, NM sit at 90.2 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 63.0. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.