Living Cost Compare
Eugene

Oregon

$1,260/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 $1,260 in Eugene, OR versus $940 in Las Cruces, NM. Overall, Las Cruces, NM is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Eugene, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,836 in Eugene, OR and $55,176 in Las Cruces, NM — about 14% higher in Eugene, OR. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Eugene, OR
Las Cruces, NM

Rent

Studio
$1,011
$597
+41% in Eugene, OR
1 Bedroom
$1,080
$793
+27% in Eugene, OR
2 Bedroom
$1,411
$888
+37% in Eugene, OR
3 Bedroom
$1,674
$1,177
+30% in Eugene, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$435,400
$217,400
+50% in Eugene, OR

Income

Median Household Income
$63,836
$55,176
+14% in Eugene, OR
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,680
$42,070
+15% in Eugene, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.4 yr
32.7 yr
+2.7 yr in Eugene, OR
Homeownership
47.6%
55.6%
+8.0 pp in Las Cruces, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.2%
37.3%
+6.9 pp in Eugene, OR
Avg Commute
18.6 min
18.7 min
+0.1 min in Las Cruces, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
319.6
726
+127% in Las Cruces, NM
Property Crime
3,348.9
4,899.2
+46% 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
52.5°F
58.8°F
+6.3°F in Las Cruces, NM
Annual Precipitation
46.1 in
—

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$3.62/gal
+29% in Eugene, OR

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.3
14.1
+13% in Eugene, OR
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.59
$11.90
+42% in Eugene, OR

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 (OR / NM)
None
4.875%
+4.9 pp in NM
Income Tax (top rate)
9.90%
5.90%
+4.0 pp in OR

Eugene vs Las Cruces — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or Las Cruces?
Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Eugene, OR's $1,260, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Eugene than in Las Cruces?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $32,000 in Las Cruces.
Which has lower taxes, Eugene or Las Cruces?
Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% 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).