Las Cruces, New Mexico
Living in Las Cruces, New Mexico is about 10% cheaper than the national average, with a cost of living index of 90 (US = 100). Typical rent is $1,472 a month, 24% below the national figure of $1,932, and regular gas costs $3.84 a gallon versus $3.98 nationally as of November 11, 2026. Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 50% of the area's $60,641 median household income.
Key Numbers
Gas (Regular)
$3.84
National: $3.98
Avg Rent (All)
$1,472
National: $1,932
Grocery Inflation
1.77%
Year-over-year
Fast Food Avg
$12.99
Combo meal
Electricity
16.51¢
per kWh · ~$149/mo
Car Insurance
$138/mo
$1,654/yr
Median Household Income
$60,641
50.3% goes to essentials
Car Insurance
Avg $1,654 in Las Cruces. Compare rates:
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Avg rent $1,472/mo in Las Cruces. Browse listings:
Grocery Prices
Grocery Prices — 2000 to Present
National BLS averages · submit local prices below ↓
Eggs (dozen)
Bird flu volatility
$0.97 in 2000 → $2.32 BLS avg
Milk (gallon)
$2.79 in 2000 → $4.10 BLS avg
Ground Beef (lb)
$1.48 in 2000 → $6.75 BLS avg
Bread (loaf)
$0.91 in 2000 → $1.86 BLS avg
Chicken Breast (lb)
$1.06 in 2000 → $2.03 BLS avg
Butter (lb)
$3.98 BLS avg
Bacon (lb)
$2.75 in 2000 → $6.69 BLS avg
Cheddar Cheese (lb)
$3.84 in 2000 → $6.13 BLS avg
Pasta (lb)
$0.88 in 2000 → $1.38 BLS avg
Rice (5 lb)
$2.50 in 2000 → $5.50 BLS avg
Coffee (12 oz)
$2.65 in 2000 → $6.94 BLS avg
Orange Juice (64 oz)
Citrus shortage
$5.42 estimate
Potatoes (5 lb)
$1.96 in 2000 → $4.95 BLS avg
Apples (3 lb)
$5.20 estimate
Tomatoes (lb)
$1.44 in 2000 → $2.08 BLS avg
Lettuce (head)
$0.75 in 2000 → $1.96 BLS avg
Cooking Oil (48 oz)
$7.76 estimate
Yogurt (32 oz)
$4.94 estimate
Cereal (family size)
$6.20 estimate
Frozen Pizza
$8.65 estimate
| Item | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2022 | 2026 | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs (dozen)Bird flu volatility | $0.97 | $1.21 | $1.79 | $2.11 | $1.46 | $1.93 | $2.32 | +137.9% |
| Milk (gallon) | $2.79 | $3.30 | $3.24 | $3.76 | $3.25 | $3.79 | $4.10 | +47.3% |
| Ground Beef (lb) | $1.48 | $2.19 | $2.28 | $4.24 | $3.89 | $4.55 | $6.75 | +355.5% |
| Bread (loaf) | $0.91 | $1.00 | $1.36 | $1.48 | $1.35 | $1.55 | $1.86 | +105.2% |
| Chicken Breast (lb) | $1.06 | $1.03 | $1.26 | $1.55 | $1.41 | $1.62 | $2.03 | +91.3% |
| Butter (lb) | — | — | — | — | $3.86 | $3.67 | $3.98 | -4.2% since 2018 |
| Bacon (lb) | $2.75 | $3.37 | $3.63 | $5.59 | $5.50 | $7.22 | $6.69 | +143.1% |
| Cheddar Cheese (lb) | $3.84 | $4.21 | $4.72 | $5.40 | $5.20 | $5.32 | $6.13 | +59.6% |
| Pasta (lb) | $0.88 | $0.94 | $1.15 | $1.26 | $1.23 | $1.12 | $1.38 | +57.1% |
| Rice (5 lb) | $2.50 | $2.98 | $3.77 | $3.46 | $3.58 | $4.16 | $5.50 | +120.6% |
| Coffee (12 oz) | $2.65 | $2.29 | $2.86 | $3.55 | $3.13 | $3.85 | $6.94 | +161.3% |
| Orange Juice (64 oz)Citrus shortageLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $3.72 | $5.42 | +45.7% since 2022 |
| Potatoes (5 lb) | $1.96 | $2.29 | $2.81 | $3.34 | $4.01 | $3.96 | $4.95 | +152.6% |
| Apples (3 lb)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.49 | $5.20 | +15.8% since 2022 |
| Tomatoes (lb) | $1.44 | $1.66 | $1.84 | $2.09 | $2.22 | $1.89 | $2.08 | +44.4% |
| Lettuce (head) | $0.75 | $0.82 | $0.90 | $1.17 | $1.34 | — | $1.96 | +162.3% |
| Cooking Oil (48 oz)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $5.54 | $7.76 | +40.1% since 2022 |
| Yogurt (32 oz)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.15 | $4.94 | +19.0% since 2022 |
| Cereal (family size)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.79 | $6.20 | +29.4% since 2022 |
| Frozen PizzaLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $6.31 | $8.65 | +37.1% since 2022 |
Dining & Restaurants
Fast Food Meal
$12.99
Casual Dining
$24.18
Monthly Spend
$431.46
+5.41% YoYChain Restaurant Meal Prices — 2022 vs. Today
Combo meal / typical order for one
McDonald's
2022: $8.36
$13.49
+61.4%Wendy's
2022: $9.44
$14.57
+54.3%Chipotle
2022: $10.12
$15.11
+49.3%Starbucks
2022: $4.58
$6.36
+38.9%Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.
Looking for an Apartment in Las Cruces?
Average 1BR: $1,207/mo · 2BR: $1,737/mo
Las Cruces Cost of Living FAQ
Is Las Cruces, NM expensive to live in?
Las Cruces has a cost of living index of 90, where 100 is the US average, so it is about 10% cheaper than average. It is the 2nd most affordable of the 6 New Mexico cities we track.
What is the average rent in Las Cruces, NM?
Typical rent in Las Cruces is $1,472 a month for all home types as of September 2026, 24% below the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $1,207 and two bedrooms about $1,737. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.
Is rent going up in Las Cruces?
Rent in Las Cruces rose 3.2% over the past year, faster than the 2.7% change nationally.
How much is gas in Las Cruces?
Regular unleaded costs about $3.84 a gallon in Las Cruces as of November 11, 2026, based on the AAA average for New Mexico. That is 4% below the national average of $3.98.
How much is electricity in Las Cruces?
Homes in New Mexico pay an average of 16.5 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill in Las Cruces is about $149.
How much is car insurance in Las Cruces?
Full coverage car insurance averages $1,654 a year in New Mexico, or about $138 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.
How much do you need to live in Las Cruces?
Median household income in the Las Cruces area is $60,641 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $30,515 a year, or 50% of that income. Groceries are counted at $7,112 a year, the average household spend on food at home in the region (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
How does Las Cruces compare with the rest of New Mexico?
Rent in Las Cruces is 5% below the $1,551 average across the 6 New Mexico cities we track, and its cost of living index of 90 compares with a state average of 90.
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