Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or Las Cruces?

Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Huntsville, AL's $1,090, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $32,000 in Las Cruces.

Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or Las Cruces?

Huntsville is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).

Huntsville vs Las Cruces Cost of Living 2026

Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/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 $1,090 in Huntsville, AL versus $940 in Las Cruces, NM. Overall, Las Cruces, NM is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Huntsville, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,778 in Huntsville, AL and $55,176 in Las Cruces, NM — about 22% higher in Huntsville, AL. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Huntsville, AL

Las Cruces, NM

Rent

Studio

$815

$597

+27% in Huntsville, AL

1 Bedroom

$900

$793

+12% in Huntsville, AL

2 Bedroom

$1,080

$888

+18% in Huntsville, AL

3 Bedroom

$1,251

$1,177

+6% in Huntsville, AL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$263,100

$217,400

+17% in Huntsville, AL

Income

Median Household Income

$70,778

$55,176

+22% in Huntsville, AL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,740

$42,070

+19% in Huntsville, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.4 yr

32.7 yr

+3.7 yr in Huntsville, AL

Homeownership

58.1%

55.6%

+2.5 pp in Huntsville, AL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.2%

37.3%

+8.9 pp in Huntsville, AL

Avg Commute

19.3 min

18.7 min

+0.6 min in Huntsville, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

483.2

726

+50% in Las Cruces, NM

Property Crime

2,395.7

4,899.2

+104% 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

62.1°F

58.8°F

+3.3°F in Huntsville, AL

Annual Precipitation

54.3 in

—

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

15.1

+8% in Huntsville, AL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.06

$9.31

+61% in Huntsville, AL

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 Huntsville, AL

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 (AL / NM)

4.875%

+0.9 pp in NM

Income Tax (top rate)

5.00%

5.90%

+0.9 pp in NM

Huntsville vs Las Cruces — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or Las Cruces?: Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Huntsville, AL's $1,090, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntsville than in Las Cruces?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $32,000 in Las Cruces.
Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or Las Cruces?: Huntsville is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).