Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Baltimore, MD versus $940 in Las Cruces, NM. Overall, Las Cruces, NM is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Baltimore, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $55,176 in Las Cruces, NM — about 7% higher in Baltimore, MD. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
Las Cruces, NM

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$597
+43% in Baltimore, MD
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$793
+26% in Baltimore, MD
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$888
+34% in Baltimore, MD
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,177
+24% in Baltimore, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$217,400
+1% in Baltimore, MD

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$55,176
+7% in Baltimore, MD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$42,070
+29% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
32.7 yr
+3.4 yr in Baltimore, MD
Homeownership
47.5%
55.6%
+8.1 pp in Las Cruces, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
37.3%
+1.9 pp in Las Cruces, NM
Avg Commute
29.4 min
18.7 min
+10.7 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
726
+55% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
4,899.2
+17% 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
61.4°F
58.8°F
+2.6°F in Baltimore, MD
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
—

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.62/gal
+6% in Baltimore, MD

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

Adult base one-way fare — MTA Maryland vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.8
14.1
+35% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.94
$11.90
+37% in Baltimore, MD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Las Cruces, NM
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Las Cruces, NM
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Baltimore, MD
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Las Cruces, NM
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Las Cruces, NM
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Las Cruces, NM

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / NM)
6%
4.875%
+1.1 pp in MD
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
5.90%
+0.6 pp in MD

Baltimore vs Las Cruces — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Las Cruces?
Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Baltimore, MD's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Las Cruces?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $32,000 in Las Cruces.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Las Cruces?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% 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).