Is it cheaper to live in Cranston or Las Cruces?

Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Cranston, RI's $1,330, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Cranston than in Las Cruces?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Cranston versus $32,000 in Las Cruces.

Which has lower taxes, Cranston or Las Cruces?

Cranston is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).

Cranston vs Las Cruces Cost of Living 2026

Cranston

Rhode Island

$1,330/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 $1,330 in Cranston, RI versus $940 in Las Cruces, NM. Overall, Las Cruces, NM is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cranston, RI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,716 in Cranston, RI and $55,176 in Las Cruces, NM — about 37% higher in Cranston, RI. Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Cranston, RI

Las Cruces, NM

Rent

Studio

—

$597

1 Bedroom

$1,032

$793

+23% in Cranston, RI

2 Bedroom

$1,438

$888

+38% in Cranston, RI

3 Bedroom

$1,688

$1,177

+30% in Cranston, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$348,800

$217,400

+38% in Cranston, RI

Income

Median Household Income

$87,716

$55,176

+37% in Cranston, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$53,680

$42,070

+22% in Cranston, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.1 yr

32.7 yr

+7.4 yr in Cranston, RI

Homeownership

67.3%

55.6%

+11.7 pp in Cranston, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.8%

37.3%

+1.5 pp in Las Cruces, NM

Avg Commute

23.8 min

18.7 min

+5.1 min in Cranston, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

93.1

726

+680% in Las Cruces, NM

Property Crime

1,065.4

4,899.2

+360% 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

51.6°F

58.8°F

+7.2°F in Las Cruces, NM

Annual Precipitation

47.2 in

—

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Cranston, RI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.2

15.1

+48% in Cranston, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$25.75

$9.31

+64% in Cranston, RI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Las Cruces, NM

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Las Cruces, NM

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Las Cruces, NM

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.01

+8% in Cranston, RI

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (RI / NM)

4.875%

+2.1 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

5.99%

5.90%

+0.1 pp in RI

Cranston vs Las Cruces — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cranston or Las Cruces?: Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Cranston, RI's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cranston than in Las Cruces?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Cranston versus $32,000 in Las Cruces.
Which has lower taxes, Cranston or Las Cruces?: Cranston is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).