Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Las Cruces?

Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Dallas, TX's $1,480, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $32,000 in Las Cruces.

Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Las Cruces?

Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).

Dallas vs Las Cruces Cost of Living 2026

Dallas

Texas

$1,480/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 $1,480 in Dallas, TX versus $940 in Las Cruces, NM. Overall, Las Cruces, NM is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dallas, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,760 in Dallas, TX and $55,176 in Las Cruces, NM — about 19% higher in Dallas, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Dallas, TX

Las Cruces, NM

Rent

Studio

$1,259

$597

+53% in Dallas, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,280

$793

+38% in Dallas, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,500

$888

+41% in Dallas, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,559

$1,177

+25% in Dallas, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$295,300

$217,400

+26% in Dallas, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$67,760

$55,176

+19% in Dallas, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$42,070

+18% in Dallas, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

32.7 yr

+0.7 yr in Dallas, TX

Homeownership

42.4%

55.6%

+13.2 pp in Las Cruces, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.4%

37.3%

+0.1 pp in Dallas, TX

Avg Commute

26.0 min

18.7 min

+7.3 min in Dallas, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

661.9

726

+10% in Las Cruces, NM

Property Crime

3,412.9

4,899.2

+44% 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

67.2°F

58.8°F

+8.4°F in Dallas, TX

Annual Precipitation

37.6 in

—

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

about equal

Area: Texas vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.50

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

14.1

+14% in Dallas, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$11.90

+61% in Dallas, TX

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 Dallas, TX

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 (TX / NM)

6.25%

4.875%

+1.4 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.90%

+5.9 pp in NM

Dallas vs Las Cruces — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Las Cruces?: Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Dallas, TX's $1,480, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dallas than in Las Cruces?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $32,000 in Las Cruces.
Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Las Cruces?: Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).