Living Cost Compare
Las Cruces

New Mexico

$940/mo est.

vs
Portland

Oregon

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Portland, OR. Overall, Las Cruces, NM is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,176 in Las Cruces, NM and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 38% higher in Portland, OR. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Las Cruces, NM
Portland, OR

Rent

Studio
$597
$1,294
+117% in Portland, OR
1 Bedroom
$793
$1,440
+82% in Portland, OR
2 Bedroom
$888
$1,741
+96% in Portland, OR
3 Bedroom
$1,177
$2,053
+74% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$217,400
$557,600
+156% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income
$55,176
$88,792
+61% in Portland, OR
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$42,070
$60,690
+44% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.7 yr
38.6 yr
+5.9 yr in Portland, OR
Homeownership
55.6%
52.8%
+2.8 pp in Las Cruces, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.3%
53.5%
+16.2 pp in Portland, OR
Avg Commute
18.7 min
24.6 min
+5.9 min in Portland, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
726
732.3
+1% in Portland, OR
Property Crime
4,899.2
5,609.4
+14% in Portland, OR

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
54.5°F
+4.3°F in Las Cruces, NM
Annual Precipitation
—
42.9 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$5.09/gal
+40% in Portland, OR

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.80

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
16.3
+15% in Portland, OR
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.90
$20.59
+73% in Portland, OR

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 (NM / OR)
4.875%
None
+4.9 pp in NM
Income Tax (top rate)
5.90%
9.90%
+4.0 pp in OR

Las Cruces vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Las Cruces or Portland?
Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Las Cruces than in Portland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Las Cruces versus $58,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Las Cruces or Portland?
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); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).