Is it cheaper to live in Las Cruces or Morgantown?

Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Morgantown, WV's $950, mainly because of natural gas costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Las Cruces versus $31,000 in Morgantown.

Which has lower taxes, Las Cruces or Morgantown?

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); Morgantown under West Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax).

Las Cruces vs Morgantown Cost of Living 2026

Las Cruces

New Mexico

$940/mo est.

Morgantown

West Virginia

$950/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 $950 in Morgantown, WV. Overall, Las Cruces, NM is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Morgantown, WV, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $55,176 in Las Cruces, NM and $42,245 in Morgantown, WV — about 23% higher in Las Cruces, NM. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Las Cruces, NM

Morgantown, WV

Rent

Studio

$597

$836

+40% in Morgantown, WV

1 Bedroom

$793

$770

+3% in Las Cruces, NM

2 Bedroom

$888

$969

+9% in Morgantown, WV

3 Bedroom

$1,177

$1,038

+12% in Las Cruces, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$217,400

$238,200

+10% in Morgantown, WV

Income

Median Household Income

$55,176

$42,245

+23% in Las Cruces, NM

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$42,070

$47,350

+13% in Morgantown, WV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

32.7 yr

24.0 yr

+8.7 yr in Las Cruces, NM

Homeownership

55.6%

44.3%

+11.3 pp in Las Cruces, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.3%

58.1%

+20.8 pp in Morgantown, WV

Avg Commute

18.7 min

17.3 min

+1.4 min in Las Cruces, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

726

216.3

+70% in Las Cruces, NM

Property Crime

4,899.2

1,976.4

+60% 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

53.0°F

+5.8°F in Las Cruces, NM

Annual Precipitation

—

41.8 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Morgantown, WV

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

15.4

+3% in Morgantown, WV

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$9.31

$24.68

+165% in Morgantown, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Las Cruces, NM

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Las Cruces, NM

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Morgantown, WV

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Las Cruces, NM

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Las Cruces, NM

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Las Cruces, NM

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NM / WV)

4.875%

+1.1 pp in WV

Income Tax (top rate)

5.90%

4.82%

+1.1 pp in NM

Las Cruces vs Morgantown — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Las Cruces or Morgantown?: Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Morgantown, WV's $950, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Las Cruces than in Morgantown?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Las Cruces versus $31,000 in Morgantown.
Which has lower taxes, Las Cruces or Morgantown?: 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); Morgantown under West Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% 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).