Is it cheaper to live in Greenville or Las Cruces?

Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Greenville, SC's $1,300, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Greenville versus $32,000 in Las Cruces.

Which has lower taxes, Greenville or Las Cruces?

Greenville is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% 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).

Greenville vs Las Cruces Cost of Living 2026

Greenville

South Carolina

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Greenville, SC versus $940 in Las Cruces, NM. Overall, Las Cruces, NM is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Greenville, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,460 in Greenville, SC and $55,176 in Las Cruces, NM — about 19% higher in Greenville, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Greenville, SC

Las Cruces, NM

Rent

Studio

$1,175

$597

+49% in Greenville, SC

1 Bedroom

$1,113

$793

+29% in Greenville, SC

2 Bedroom

$1,325

$888

+33% in Greenville, SC

3 Bedroom

$1,550

$1,177

+24% in Greenville, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$453,300

$217,400

+52% in Greenville, SC

Income

Median Household Income

$68,460

$55,176

+19% in Greenville, SC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,580

$42,070

+10% in Greenville, SC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.8 yr

32.7 yr

+2.1 yr in Greenville, SC

Homeownership

41.2%

55.6%

+14.4 pp in Las Cruces, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.0%

37.3%

+17.7 pp in Greenville, SC

Avg Commute

19.9 min

18.7 min

+1.2 min in Greenville, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

649.8

726

+12% in Las Cruces, NM

Property Crime

3,479.3

4,899.2

+41% 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

60.5°F

58.8°F

+1.7°F in Greenville, SC

Annual Precipitation

50.8 in

—

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Greenville, SC

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.6

15.1

+3% in Greenville, SC

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.07

$9.31

+68% in Greenville, SC

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 Greenville, SC

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 (SC / NM)

4.875%

+1.1 pp in SC

Income Tax (top rate)

6.00%

5.90%

+0.1 pp in SC

Greenville vs Las Cruces — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Greenville or Las Cruces?: Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Greenville, SC's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Greenville than in Las Cruces?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Greenville versus $32,000 in Las Cruces.
Which has lower taxes, Greenville or Las Cruces?: Greenville is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% 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).