CostIndexUSA

Cary, NC vs Las Cruces, NM Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Cary
98.2
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
More AffordableNM
Las Cruces
90.2
overall index
$1,375/mo rent

Las Cruces is moderately cheaper than Cary — 8.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cary, you would need $73,500 in Las Cruces. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−39.1%
Cary
103.5
Las Cruces
63
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Cary
96.6
Las Cruces
96.1
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Cary
103.1
Las Cruces
103.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Cary
93.3
Las Cruces
93.6
⚡ Utilities−12.5%
Cary
89
Las Cruces
77.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Las Cruces, NM
$73,500
$6,500 less needed in Las Cruces

Formula: salary × (90.2 ÷ 98.2) = salary × 0.9185. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Cary, NC

Median Home Price
$428,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
103.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.6×

Las Cruces, NM

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

Cary has 39.1% lower housing costs compared to Las Cruces.

Income & Job Market

Cary, NC

Median Household Income
$96,100
Per Capita Income
$54,800
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
174,721
Top Industries
TechnologyFinanceHealthcareEducationResearch

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).

Cary, NC
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

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

71% of income left after rent (median)

Cary vs other cities

Cary, NC
vs
Asheville, NC
Index: 98.2Index: 96.5
Cary, NC
vs
Charlotte, NC
Index: 98.2Index: 97.3
Cary, NC
vs
Durham, NC
Index: 98.2Index: 97.6
Cary, NC
vs
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Index: 98.2Index: 106.4
Cary, NC
vs
Salem, OR
Index: 98.2Index: 103.6

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.