Is it cheaper to live in Green Bay or Las Cruces?

Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Las Cruces, NM's $940, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Green Bay versus $32,000 in Las Cruces.

Which has lower taxes, Green Bay or Las Cruces?

Green Bay is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).

Green Bay vs Las Cruces Cost of Living 2026

Green Bay

Wisconsin

$920/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 $920 in Green Bay, WI versus $940 in Las Cruces, NM. Overall, Green Bay, WI is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Las Cruces, NM, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,546 in Green Bay, WI and $55,176 in Las Cruces, NM — about 12% higher in Green Bay, WI. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Green Bay, WI

Las Cruces, NM

Rent

Studio

$707

$597

+16% in Green Bay, WI

1 Bedroom

$730

$793

+9% in Las Cruces, NM

2 Bedroom

$956

$888

+7% in Green Bay, WI

3 Bedroom

$1,287

$1,177

+9% in Green Bay, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$191,500

$217,400

+14% in Las Cruces, NM

Income

Median Household Income

$62,546

$55,176

+12% in Green Bay, WI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,940

$42,070

+16% in Green Bay, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.7 yr

32.7 yr

+3.0 yr in Green Bay, WI

Homeownership

55.9%

55.6%

+0.3 pp in Green Bay, WI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

25.5%

37.3%

+11.8 pp in Las Cruces, NM

Avg Commute

18.9 min

18.7 min

+0.2 min in Green Bay, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

501.7

726

+45% in Las Cruces, NM

Property Crime

1,331.2

4,899.2

+268% 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

44.3°F

58.8°F

+14.5°F in Las Cruces, NM

Annual Precipitation

29.5 in

—

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Green Bay, WI

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.7

14.1

+28% in Green Bay, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.79

$11.90

+1% in Las Cruces, NM

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Las Cruces, NM

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Las Cruces, NM

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Green Bay, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Las Cruces, NM

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Green Bay, WI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Las Cruces, NM

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WI / NM)

4.875%

+0.1 pp in WI

Income Tax (top rate)

7.65%

5.90%

+1.8 pp in WI

Green Bay vs Las Cruces — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Green Bay or Las Cruces?: Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Las Cruces, NM's $940, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Green Bay than in Las Cruces?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Green Bay versus $32,000 in Las Cruces.
Which has lower taxes, Green Bay or Las Cruces?: Green Bay is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).