Living Cost Compare
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/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 $1,270 in Dover, DE versus $940 in Las Cruces, NM. Overall, Las Cruces, NM is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dover, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $55,176 in Las Cruces, NM — about 5% higher in Dover, DE. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Dover, DE
Las Cruces, NM

Rent

Studio
$993
$597
+40% in Dover, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,047
$793
+24% in Dover, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,185
$888
+25% in Dover, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,177
+28% in Dover, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,500
$217,400
+13% in Dover, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$58,336
$55,176
+5% in Dover, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,690
$42,070
+10% in Dover, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
32.7 yr
+2.4 yr in Dover, DE
Homeownership
47.0%
55.6%
+8.6 pp in Las Cruces, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.1%
37.3%
+10.2 pp in Las Cruces, NM
Avg Commute
24.0 min
18.7 min
+5.3 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,025.3
726
+29% in Dover, DE
Property Crime
6,159.1
4,899.2
+20% in Dover, DE

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
56.9°F
58.8°F
+1.9°F in Las Cruces, NM
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
—

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Dover, DE

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
15.1
+22% in Dover, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$9.31
+69% in Dover, DE

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 Dover, DE
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 (DE / NM)
None
4.875%
+4.9 pp in NM
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
5.90%
+0.7 pp in DE

Dover vs Las Cruces — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Las Cruces?
Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Dover, DE's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover 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 Dover versus $32,000 in Las Cruces.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or Las Cruces?
Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).