Living Cost Compare
Idaho Falls

Idaho

$970/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 $970 in Idaho Falls, ID versus $940 in Las Cruces, NM. Overall, Las Cruces, NM is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Idaho Falls, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,630 in Idaho Falls, ID and $55,176 in Las Cruces, NM — about 21% higher in Idaho Falls, ID. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% 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.

Idaho Falls, ID
Las Cruces, NM

Rent

Studio
$818
$597
+27% in Idaho Falls, ID
1 Bedroom
$827
$793
+4% in Idaho Falls, ID
2 Bedroom
$957
$888
+7% in Idaho Falls, ID
3 Bedroom
$1,278
$1,177
+8% in Idaho Falls, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$298,600
$217,400
+27% in Idaho Falls, ID

Income

Median Household Income
$69,630
$55,176
+21% in Idaho Falls, ID
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,800
$42,070
+10% in Idaho Falls, ID

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.5 yr
32.7 yr
+0.8 yr in Idaho Falls, ID
Homeownership
64.1%
55.6%
+8.5 pp in Idaho Falls, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
31.0%
37.3%
+6.3 pp in Las Cruces, NM
Avg Commute
18.2 min
18.7 min
+0.5 min in Las Cruces, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
365.3
726
+99% in Las Cruces, NM
Property Crime
1,235.5
4,899.2
+297% 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
44.2°F
58.8°F
+14.6°F in Las Cruces, NM
Annual Precipitation
10.4 in
—

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$3.62/gal
+15% in Idaho Falls, ID

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.4
15.1
+5% in Las Cruces, NM
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.33
$9.31
+18% in Idaho Falls, ID

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 (ID / NM)
6%
4.875%
+1.1 pp in ID
Income Tax (top rate)
5.30%
5.90%
+0.6 pp in NM

Idaho Falls vs Las Cruces — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Idaho Falls or Las Cruces?
Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Idaho Falls, ID's $970, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Idaho Falls than in Las Cruces?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Idaho Falls versus $32,000 in Las Cruces.
Which has lower taxes, Idaho Falls or Las Cruces?
Idaho Falls is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% 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).