Living Cost Compare
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Charleston, SC versus $940 in Las Cruces, NM. Overall, Las Cruces, NM is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $55,176 in Las Cruces, NM — about 39% higher in Charleston, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% 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.

Charleston, SC
Las Cruces, NM

Rent

Studio
$1,579
$597
+62% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,430
$793
+45% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,684
$888
+47% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$2,076
$1,177
+43% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$469,100
$217,400
+54% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$90,038
$55,176
+39% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,150
$42,070
+14% in Charleston, SC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
32.7 yr
+3.4 yr in Charleston, SC
Homeownership
55.6%
55.6%
about equal
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.7%
37.3%
+20.4 pp in Charleston, SC
Avg Commute
23.8 min
18.7 min
+5.1 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
358.8
726
+102% in Las Cruces, NM
Property Crime
2,035.1
4,899.2
+141% 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
66.7°F
58.8°F
+7.9°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
44.4 in
—

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.62/gal
+6% in Charleston, SC

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
14.1
+13% in Charleston, SC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.35
$11.90
+56% in Charleston, SC

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 Charleston, SC
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 (SC / NM)
6%
4.875%
+1.1 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
5.90%
+0.1 pp in SC

Charleston vs Las Cruces — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Las Cruces?
Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Las Cruces?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $32,000 in Las Cruces.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Las Cruces?
Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% 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).