Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/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 $1,010 in Baton Rouge, LA versus $940 in Las Cruces, NM. Overall, Las Cruces, NM is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Baton Rouge, LA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $55,176 in Las Cruces, NM — about 9% higher in Las Cruces, NM. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Las Cruces, NM

Rent

Studio
$881
$597
+32% in Baton Rouge, LA
1 Bedroom
$854
$793
+7% in Baton Rouge, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$888
+17% in Baton Rouge, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,177
+5% in Baton Rouge, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$217,400
+3% in Baton Rouge, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$55,176
+10% in Las Cruces, NM
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$42,070
+14% in Baton Rouge, LA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
32.7 yr
+0.9 yr in Las Cruces, NM
Homeownership
46.9%
55.6%
+8.7 pp in Las Cruces, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
37.3%
+1.5 pp in Las Cruces, NM
Avg Commute
21.1 min
18.7 min
+2.4 min in Baton Rouge, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
726
+138% in Las Cruces, NM
Property Crime
1,756.3
4,899.2
+179% 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
68.5°F
58.8°F
+9.7°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
—

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
14.1
+0% in Baton Rouge, LA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$11.90
+28% in Baton Rouge, LA

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 Baton Rouge, LA
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 (LA / NM)
5%
4.875%
+0.1 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
5.90%
+2.9 pp in NM

Baton Rouge vs Las Cruces — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Las Cruces?
Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Baton Rouge, LA's $1,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Las Cruces?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $32,000 in Las Cruces.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Las Cruces?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% 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).