Cost of Living in Las Cruces, NM
Las Cruces, NM — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Las Cruces, NM to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Prices in Las Cruces, NM vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 90.2 | −9.8% |
| Housing | 63.0 | −37.0% |
| Goods | 96.1 | −3.9% |
| Utilities | 77.9 | −22.1% |
| Other services | 98.5 | −1.5% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Las Cruces, NM
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $744 | $29,760/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $951 | $38,040/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,042 | $41,680/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,449 | $57,960/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,580 | $63,200/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in Las Cruces, NM
- Federal income tax$2,868
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,608
- Medicare (1.45%)$610
- New Mexico income tax$842
- Take-home pay$35,142
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.30% state
Highest-paying jobs in Las Cruces, NM
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is Las Cruces, NM expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Las Cruces, NM metro area are 90.2% of the U.S. average, with housing at 63.0%. It is the #285 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Las Cruces, NM?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $54,127 in Las Cruces, NM (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $42,070.
How much is rent in Las Cruces, NM?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Las Cruces, NM are $744 for a studio, $951 for one bedroom, $1,042 for two bedrooms and $1,449 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
All salaries in Las Cruces, NM
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $85,770
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $76,510
- Accountant and Auditor — $67,470
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $75,250
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $74,100
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $40,930
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $38,520
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $83,310
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $37,650
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $27,840
Protective Service Occupations
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $106,330
- Security Guard — $37,010
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,870
- Waiter and Waitress — $38,670
- Food Preparation Worker — $32,360
- Cooks, Restaurant — $30,980
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,560
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Personal Care and Service Occupations
- Childcare Worker — $34,270
Sales and Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $44,670
- Retail Salesperson — $30,460
- Cashier — $28,710
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $59,830
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $44,460
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $41,030
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $38,690
- Office Clerks, General — $36,810
- Customer Service Representative — $36,080
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $33,280
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $68,690
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $48,890
- Construction Laborer — $39,460
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $42,340
Production Occupations
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $48,400
- Light Truck Driver — $36,990
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $33,350
- Stocker and Order Filler — $32,290