Living Cost Compare
Anchorage

Alaska

$1,320/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 $1,320 in Anchorage, AK versus $940 in Las Cruces, NM. Overall, Las Cruces, NM is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anchorage, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $55,176 in Las Cruces, NM — about 44% higher in Anchorage, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK
Las Cruces, NM

Rent

Studio
$1,001
$597
+40% in Anchorage, AK
1 Bedroom
$1,052
$793
+25% in Anchorage, AK
2 Bedroom
$1,433
$888
+38% in Anchorage, AK
3 Bedroom
$1,952
$1,177
+40% in Anchorage, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$375,900
$217,400
+42% in Anchorage, AK

Income

Median Household Income
$98,152
$55,176
+44% in Anchorage, AK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,200
$42,070
+30% in Anchorage, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
32.7 yr
+2.2 yr in Anchorage, AK
Homeownership
63.7%
55.6%
+8.1 pp in Anchorage, AK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.7%
37.3%
+0.4 pp in Anchorage, AK
Avg Commute
19.0 min
18.7 min
+0.3 min in Anchorage, AK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,016.5
726
+29% in Anchorage, AK
Property Crime
2,796.2
4,899.2
+75% 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
37.4°F
58.8°F
+21.4°F in Las Cruces, NM
Annual Precipitation
17.9 in
—

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$3.62/gal
+29% in Anchorage, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.2
14.1
+50% in Anchorage, AK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.40
$11.90
+17% in Anchorage, AK

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 (AK / NM)
None
4.875%
+4.9 pp in NM
Income Tax (top rate)
None
5.90%
+5.9 pp in NM

Anchorage vs Las Cruces — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Las Cruces?
Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Anchorage, AK's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Las Cruces?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $32,000 in Las Cruces.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Las Cruces?
Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Las Cruces under New Mexico's (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).