Is it cheaper to live in Las Cruces or Milwaukee?

Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Milwaukee, WI's $1,040, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Las Cruces versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.

Which has lower taxes, Las Cruces or Milwaukee?

Las Cruces is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Milwaukee under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax).

Las Cruces vs Milwaukee Cost of Living 2026

Las Cruces

New Mexico

$940/mo est.

Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,040/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Las Cruces, NM versus $1,040 in Milwaukee, WI. Overall, Las Cruces, NM is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Milwaukee, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,176 in Las Cruces, NM and $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI — about 6% higher in Las Cruces, NM. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Las Cruces, NM

Milwaukee, WI

Rent

Studio

$597

$841

+41% in Milwaukee, WI

1 Bedroom

$793

$849

+7% in Milwaukee, WI

2 Bedroom

$888

$1,031

+16% in Milwaukee, WI

3 Bedroom

$1,177

$1,193

+1% in Milwaukee, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$217,400

$172,000

+21% in Las Cruces, NM

Income

Median Household Income

$55,176

$51,888

+6% in Las Cruces, NM

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$42,070

$51,160

+22% in Milwaukee, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

32.7 yr

32.2 yr

+0.5 yr in Las Cruces, NM

Homeownership

55.6%

41.5%

+14.1 pp in Las Cruces, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.3%

26.6%

+10.7 pp in Las Cruces, NM

Avg Commute

18.7 min

22.4 min

+3.7 min in Milwaukee, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

726

1,452.3

+100% in Milwaukee, WI

Property Crime

4,899.2

2,772.2

+43% 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

58.8°F

47.9°F

+10.9°F in Las Cruces, NM

Annual Precipitation

—

34.8 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Milwaukee, WI

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

19.7

+40% in Milwaukee, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.90

$11.79

+1% in Las Cruces, NM

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Las Cruces, NM

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.66

+19% in Las Cruces, NM

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Milwaukee, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Las Cruces, NM

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Milwaukee, WI

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Las Cruces, NM

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NM / WI)

4.875%

+0.1 pp in WI

Income Tax (top rate)

5.90%

7.65%

+1.8 pp in WI

Las Cruces vs Milwaukee — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Las Cruces or Milwaukee?: Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Milwaukee, WI's $1,040, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Las Cruces than in Milwaukee?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Las Cruces versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.
Which has lower taxes, Las Cruces or Milwaukee?: Las Cruces is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Milwaukee under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).