What is the cost of living in Las Cruces, NM?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Las Cruces has an overall cost of living index of 93, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Mexico, Las Cruces has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than New Mexico's index of 93.
The standard of living in Las Cruces ranks as #24 most affordable out of the 45 places we measured in New Mexico. By definition, that implies Las Cruces ranks as the #21 most expensive place in the Land of Enchantment.
For more reading on life in Las Cruces, check out:
Las Cruces Cost Of Living Vs. New Mexico
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Las Cruces. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Las Cruces is 94.
The Groceries index in Las Cruces is 101.
The Health index in Las Cruces is 85.
The Housing index in Las Cruces is 99.
The Transportation index in Las Cruces is 97.
The Utilities index in Las Cruces is 95.
| Living Expense | Las Cruces | New Mexico | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 93 | 93 | 100 |
| Services | 94 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 85 | 86 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 94 | 100 |
Las Cruces Cost Of Living Compared To New Mexico Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around New Mexico, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Las Cruces Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Las Cruces, NM Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in New Mexico, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Las Cruces is $290,022.
The Median Rent in Las Cruces is $974.
The Median Income in Las Cruces is $55,422.
The Home Value To Income in Las Cruces is 5.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Las Cruces is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Las Cruces | New Mexico | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $290,022 | $316,750 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $974 | $1,067 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $55,422 | $64,059 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.2x | 4.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Las Cruces, NM Costs By Category
Detailed Las Cruces Services costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Las Cruces | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.09 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.0 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $14.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.56 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $46.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed Las Cruces Groceries costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Las Cruces | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.69 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.32 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.53 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.15 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.38 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.68 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.67 | $3.7 |
Detailed Las Cruces Health costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Las Cruces | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $150.67 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $140.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $113.72 | $113.29 |
Detailed Las Cruces Transportation costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Las Cruces | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.35 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $53.65 | $59.92 |
Detailed Las Cruces Utilities costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Las Cruces | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $192.0 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $189.63 | $192.25 |
Las Cruces SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Las Cruces
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Las Cruces. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
El Paso, TX has a cost of living index of 95, 1.0x Las Cruces.
Chaparral, NM has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Las Cruces.
Sunland Park, NM has a cost of living index of 93, 1.0x Las Cruces.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Las Cruces |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Paso, TX | 680,130 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Chaparral, NM | 18,186 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Sunland Park, NM | 17,463 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Anthony, NM | 8,767 | 87 | 0.9x |
| Santa Teresa, NM | 6,041 | 101 | 1.1x |
