Living Cost Compare
Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Las Cruces

New Mexico

$940/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,030 in Albuquerque, NM versus $940 in Las Cruces, NM. Overall, Las Cruces, NM is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Albuquerque, NM, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $55,176 in Las Cruces, NM — about 16% higher in Albuquerque, NM. Both cities are in New Mexico, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM
Las Cruces, NM

Rent

Studio
$797
$597
+25% in Albuquerque, NM
1 Bedroom
$889
$793
+11% in Albuquerque, NM
2 Bedroom
$1,140
$888
+22% in Albuquerque, NM
3 Bedroom
$1,459
$1,177
+19% in Albuquerque, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,700
$217,400
+18% in Albuquerque, NM

Income

Median Household Income
$65,604
$55,176
+16% in Albuquerque, NM
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,060
$42,070
+12% in Albuquerque, NM

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.7 yr
32.7 yr
+6.0 yr in Albuquerque, NM
Homeownership
61.5%
55.6%
+5.9 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
37.3%
+1.4 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Avg Commute
22.2 min
18.7 min
+3.5 min in Albuquerque, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,194.3
726
+39% in Albuquerque, NM
Property Crime
4,766.6
4,899.2
+3% in Las Cruces, NM

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
57.2°F
58.8°F
+1.6°F in Las Cruces, NM
Annual Precipitation
9.4 in
—

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.62/gal
about equal

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
Free
—

Adult base one-way fare — ABQ RIDE vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
14.1
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.90
$11.90
about equal

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

Average prices — West vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NM / NM)
4.875%
4.875%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
5.90%
5.90%
about equal

Albuquerque vs Las Cruces — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Las Cruces?
Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Albuquerque, NM's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Las Cruces?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $32,000 in Las Cruces.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Las Cruces?
Neither — both are in New Mexico, so they share the same state tax rates: a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).