Living Cost Compare
Denver

Colorado

$1,750/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 $1,750 in Denver, CO versus $940 in Las Cruces, NM. Overall, Las Cruces, NM is roughly 46% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Denver, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,681 in Denver, CO and $55,176 in Las Cruces, NM — about 40% higher in Denver, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Denver, CO
Las Cruces, NM

Rent

Studio
$1,497
$597
+60% in Denver, CO
1 Bedroom
$1,583
$793
+50% in Denver, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,958
$888
+55% in Denver, CO
3 Bedroom
$2,269
$1,177
+48% in Denver, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$586,700
$217,400
+63% in Denver, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$91,681
$55,176
+40% in Denver, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$62,320
$42,070
+32% in Denver, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.2 yr
32.7 yr
+2.5 yr in Denver, CO
Homeownership
49.1%
55.6%
+6.5 pp in Las Cruces, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
55.6%
37.3%
+18.3 pp in Denver, CO
Avg Commute
25.4 min
18.7 min
+6.7 min in Denver, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
999.3
726
+27% in Denver, CO
Property Crime
4,781.1
4,899.2
+2% 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
50.2°F
58.8°F
+8.6°F in Las Cruces, NM
Annual Precipitation
15.6 in
—

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$3.62/gal
+15% in Denver, CO

Area: Denver vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
14.1
+13% in Denver, CO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.92
$11.90
+0% in Denver, CO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / NM)
2.9%
4.875%
+2.0 pp in NM
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
5.90%
+1.5 pp in NM

Denver vs Las Cruces — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Las Cruces?
Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 46% below Denver, CO's $1,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Denver than in Las Cruces?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $32,000 in Las Cruces.
Which has lower taxes, Denver or Las Cruces?
Denver is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).