Is it cheaper to live in Las Cruces or Virginia Beach?

Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,550, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Las Cruces versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.

Which has lower taxes, Las Cruces or Virginia Beach?

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); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax).

Las Cruces vs Virginia Beach Cost of Living 2026

Las Cruces

New Mexico

$940/mo est.

Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,550/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 $1,550 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Las Cruces, NM is roughly 39% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,176 in Las Cruces, NM and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 39% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Las Cruces, NM

Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio

$597

$1,496

+151% in Virginia Beach, VA

1 Bedroom

$793

$1,357

+71% in Virginia Beach, VA

2 Bedroom

$888

$1,559

+76% in Virginia Beach, VA

3 Bedroom

$1,177

$1,857

+58% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$217,400

$366,300

+68% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income

$55,176

$90,685

+64% in Virginia Beach, VA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$42,070

$49,430

+17% in Virginia Beach, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

32.7 yr

37.4 yr

+4.7 yr in Virginia Beach, VA

Homeownership

55.6%

64.9%

+9.3 pp in Virginia Beach, VA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.3%

40.4%

+3.1 pp in Virginia Beach, VA

Avg Commute

18.7 min

23.2 min

+4.5 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

726

96.9

+87% in Las Cruces, NM

Property Crime

4,899.2

1,664.9

+66% 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

59.9°F

+1.1°F in Virginia Beach, VA

Annual Precipitation

—

44.3 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.86/gal

+7% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

17.6

+25% in Virginia Beach, VA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.90

$23.66

+99% in Virginia Beach, VA

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 Virginia Beach, VA

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 / VA)

4.875%

5.3%

+0.4 pp in VA

Income Tax (top rate)

5.90%

5.75%

+0.2 pp in NM

Las Cruces vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Las Cruces or Virginia Beach?: Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,550, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Las Cruces than in Virginia Beach?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Las Cruces versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Las Cruces or Virginia Beach?: 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); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).