Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Las Cruces?

Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Columbus, OH's $1,270, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus 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 Columbus versus $32,000 in Las Cruces.

Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Las Cruces?

Columbus is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).

Columbus vs Las Cruces Cost of Living 2026

Columbus

Ohio

$1,270/mo est.

Las Cruces

New Mexico

$940/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,270 in Columbus, OH versus $940 in Las Cruces, NM. Overall, Las Cruces, NM is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbus, OH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,327 in Columbus, OH and $55,176 in Las Cruces, NM — about 16% higher in Columbus, OH. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Columbus, OH

Las Cruces, NM

Rent

Studio

$1,014

$597

+41% in Columbus, OH

1 Bedroom

$1,059

$793

+25% in Columbus, OH

2 Bedroom

$1,276

$888

+30% in Columbus, OH

3 Bedroom

$1,369

$1,177

+14% in Columbus, OH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$234,500

$217,400

+7% in Columbus, OH

Income

Median Household Income

$65,327

$55,176

+16% in Columbus, OH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,340

$42,070

+18% in Columbus, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.0 yr

32.7 yr

+0.3 yr in Columbus, OH

Homeownership

44.3%

55.6%

+11.3 pp in Las Cruces, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.2%

37.3%

+0.9 pp in Columbus, OH

Avg Commute

21.8 min

18.7 min

+3.1 min in Columbus, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

485.2

726

+50% in Las Cruces, NM

Property Crime

3,093.9

4,899.2

+58% 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

52.7°F

58.8°F

+6.1°F in Las Cruces, NM

Annual Precipitation

40.1 in

—

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.18/gal

$3.62/gal

+13% in Columbus, OH

Area: Ohio vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.5

14.1

+28% in Columbus, OH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.83

$11.90

+48% in Columbus, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Las Cruces, NM

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Las Cruces, NM

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Columbus, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Las Cruces, NM

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Columbus, OH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Las Cruces, NM

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / NM)

5.75%

4.875%

+0.9 pp in OH

Income Tax (top rate)

2.75%

5.90%

+3.2 pp in NM

Columbus vs Las Cruces — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Las Cruces?: Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Columbus, OH's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus 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 Columbus versus $32,000 in Las Cruces.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Las Cruces?: Columbus is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).