CostIndexUSA

Baton Rouge, LA vs Las Cruces, NM Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

LA
Baton Rouge
90.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
More AffordableNM
Las Cruces
90.2
overall index
$1,375/mo rent

Las Cruces is slightly cheaper than Baton Rouge — 0.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Baton Rouge, you would need $79,500 in Las Cruces. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing−15.1%
Baton Rouge
74.2
Las Cruces
63
🛒 Groceries+2.6%
Baton Rouge
93.7
Las Cruces
96.1
🚗 Transportation+3.0%
Baton Rouge
100.5
Las Cruces
103.5
🏥 Healthcare+3.0%
Baton Rouge
90.9
Las Cruces
93.6
⚡ Utilities+9.4%
Baton Rouge
71.2
Las Cruces
77.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Baton Rouge to see what you'd need to earn in Las Cruces to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
→
Equivalent salary in Las Cruces, NM
$79,500
$500 less needed in Las Cruces

Formula: salary × (90.2 ÷ 90.8) = salary × 0.9934. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Baton Rouge, LA

Median Home Price
$240,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
74.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Las Cruces, NM

Median Home Price
$282,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,375
Housing Index
63
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.1×

Baton Rouge has 15.1% lower housing costs compared to Las Cruces.

Income & Job Market

Baton Rouge, LA

Median Household Income
$64,600
Per Capita Income
$36,800
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Population
227,470
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareGovernmentEducationManufacturing

Las Cruces, NM

Median Household Income
$56,500
Per Capita Income
$32,200
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
111,385
Top Industries
EducationGovernmentHealthcareMilitaryRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Baton Rouge, LA
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Las Cruces, NM
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Baton Rouge vs other cities

Baton Rouge, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 90.8Index: 87.2
Baton Rouge, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 90.8Index: 85.9
Baton Rouge, LA
vs
Monroe, LA
Index: 90.8Index: 83.6
Baton Rouge, LA
vs
Richmond, VA
Index: 90.8Index: 97.9
Baton Rouge, LA
vs
Santa Clarita, CA
Index: 90.8Index: 113.6

Las Cruces vs other cities

Las Cruces, NM
vs
Albuquerque, NM
Index: 90.2Index: 95.5
Las Cruces, NM
vs
Santa Fe, NM
Index: 90.2Index: 98.8
Las Cruces, NM
vs
Pueblo, CO
Index: 90.2Index: 91.8
Las Cruces, NM
vs
Lansing, MI
Index: 90.2Index: 95
Las Cruces, NM
vs
Peoria, IL
Index: 90.2Index: 91.2

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.