CostIndexUSA

Columbia, MO vs Las Cruces, NM Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMO
Columbia
89.4
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
NM
Las Cruces
90.2
overall index
$1,375/mo rent

Columbia is slightly cheaper than Las Cruces — 0.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Columbia, you would need $80,700 in Las Cruces. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing9.0%
Columbia
69.2
Las Cruces
63
🛒 Groceries+2.0%
Columbia
94.2
Las Cruces
96.1
🚗 Transportation+5.9%
Columbia
97.7
Las Cruces
103.5
🏥 Healthcare+5.9%
Columbia
88.4
Las Cruces
93.6
Utilities9.4%
Columbia
86
Las Cruces
77.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Las Cruces, NM
$80,700
$700 more needed in Las Cruces

Formula: salary × (90.2 ÷ 89.4) = salary × 1.0089. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Columbia, MO

Median Home Price
$308,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
69.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.0×

Las Cruces, NM

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

Columbia has 9.0% lower housing costs compared to Las Cruces.

Income & Job Market

Columbia, MO

Median Household Income
$69,400
Per Capita Income
$39,600
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
126,254
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareGovernmentTechnologyFinance

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).

Columbia, MO
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

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

71% of income left after rent (median)

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.