Is it cheaper to live in Las Cruces or St. Louis?

Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below St. Louis, MO's $1,030, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Las Cruces than in St. Louis?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Las Cruces versus $35,000 in St. Louis.

Which has lower taxes, Las Cruces or St. Louis?

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); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax).

Las Cruces vs St. Louis Cost of Living 2026

Las Cruces

New Mexico

$940/mo est.

St. Louis

Missouri

$1,030/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 $1,030 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, Las Cruces, NM is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than St. Louis, MO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,176 in Las Cruces, NM and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Las Cruces, NM

St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio

$597

$864

+45% in St. Louis, MO

1 Bedroom

$793

$866

+9% in St. Louis, MO

2 Bedroom

$888

$1,109

+25% in St. Louis, MO

3 Bedroom

$1,177

$1,135

+4% in Las Cruces, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$217,400

$185,100

+15% in Las Cruces, NM

Income

Median Household Income

$55,176

$55,279

+0% in St. Louis, MO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$42,070

$49,990

+19% in St. Louis, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

32.7 yr

36.6 yr

+3.9 yr in St. Louis, MO

Homeownership

55.6%

45.4%

+10.2 pp in Las Cruces, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.3%

40.2%

+2.9 pp in St. Louis, MO

Avg Commute

18.7 min

22.2 min

+3.5 min in St. Louis, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

726

1,372.9

+89% in St. Louis, MO

Property Crime

4,899.2

5,794.9

+18% in St. Louis, MO

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

55.7°F

+3.1°F in Las Cruces, NM

Annual Precipitation

—

40.9 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in St. Louis, MO

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

13.7

+3% in Las Cruces, NM

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.90

$24.13

+103% in St. Louis, MO

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 St. Louis, MO

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Las Cruces, NM

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in St. Louis, MO

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 / MO)

4.875%

4.225%

+0.7 pp in NM

Income Tax (top rate)

5.90%

4.70%

+1.2 pp in NM

Las Cruces vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Las Cruces or St. Louis?: Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below St. Louis, MO's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Las Cruces than in St. Louis?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Las Cruces versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Las Cruces or St. Louis?: 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); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).