Living Cost Compare
Las Cruces

New Mexico

$940/mo est.

vs
New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/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 $1,530 in New Haven, CT. Overall, Las Cruces, NM is roughly 39% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,176 in Las Cruces, NM and $53,771 in New Haven, CT — about 3% higher in Las Cruces, NM. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Las Cruces, NM
New Haven, CT

Rent

Studio
$597
$1,159
+94% in New Haven, CT
1 Bedroom
$793
$1,275
+61% in New Haven, CT
2 Bedroom
$888
$1,473
+66% in New Haven, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,177
$1,636
+39% in New Haven, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$217,400
$249,000
+15% in New Haven, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$55,176
$53,771
+3% in Las Cruces, NM
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$42,070
$60,060
+43% in New Haven, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.7 yr
31.9 yr
+0.8 yr in Las Cruces, NM
Homeownership
55.6%
28.4%
+27.2 pp in Las Cruces, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.3%
37.7%
+0.4 pp in New Haven, CT
Avg Commute
18.7 min
21.0 min
+2.3 min in New Haven, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
726
536.3
+26% in Las Cruces, NM
Property Crime
4,899.2
3,601.6
+26% 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
52.2°F
+6.6°F in Las Cruces, NM
Annual Precipitation
—
47.1 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in New Haven, CT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
24.3
+61% in New Haven, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$9.31
$23.33
+151% in New Haven, CT

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
$1.92
+6% in Las Cruces, NM
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Las Cruces, NM
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.19
+9% in New Haven, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NM / CT)
4.875%
6.35%
+1.5 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
5.90%
6.99%
+1.1 pp in CT

Las Cruces vs New Haven — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Las Cruces or New Haven?
Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Las Cruces than in New Haven?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Las Cruces versus $51,000 in New Haven.
Which has lower taxes, Las Cruces or New Haven?
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); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).