Is it cheaper to live in Fort Worth or Las Cruces?

Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Fort Worth, TX's $1,390, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Fort Worth versus $32,000 in Las Cruces.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Worth or Las Cruces?

Fort Worth 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).

Fort Worth vs Las Cruces Cost of Living 2026

Fort Worth

Texas

$1,390/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 $1,390 in Fort Worth, TX versus $940 in Las Cruces, NM. Overall, Las Cruces, NM is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fort Worth, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $76,602 in Fort Worth, TX and $55,176 in Las Cruces, NM — about 28% higher in Fort Worth, 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.

Fort Worth, TX

Las Cruces, NM

Rent

Studio

$1,310

$597

+54% in Fort Worth, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,191

$793

+33% in Fort Worth, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,393

$888

+36% in Fort Worth, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,721

$1,177

+32% in Fort Worth, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$277,300

$217,400

+22% in Fort Worth, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$76,602

$55,176

+28% in Fort Worth, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$42,070

+18% in Fort Worth, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

32.7 yr

+0.7 yr in Fort Worth, TX

Homeownership

56.7%

55.6%

+1.1 pp in Fort Worth, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

31.7%

37.3%

+5.6 pp in Las Cruces, NM

Avg Commute

26.9 min

18.7 min

+8.2 min in Fort Worth, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

465.2

726

+56% in Las Cruces, NM

Property Crime

2,735.7

4,899.2

+79% 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

65.7°F

58.8°F

+6.9°F in Fort Worth, TX

Annual Precipitation

36.1 in

—

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

about equal

Area: Texas vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

14.1

+14% in Fort Worth, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$11.90

+61% in Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth, 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

Fort Worth vs Las Cruces — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Worth or Las Cruces?: Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Fort Worth, TX's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Worth than in Las Cruces?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Fort Worth versus $32,000 in Las Cruces.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Worth or Las Cruces?: Fort Worth 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).