CostIndexUSA

Fort Wayne, IN vs Las Cruces, NM Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IN
Fort Wayne
92.6
overall index
$1,150/mo rent
More AffordableNM
Las Cruces
90.2
overall index
$1,375/mo rent

Las Cruces is slightly cheaper than Fort Wayne — 2.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Wayne, you would need $77,900 in Las Cruces. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing12.9%
Fort Wayne
72.3
Las Cruces
63
🛒 Groceries+1.9%
Fort Wayne
94.3
Las Cruces
96.1
🚗 Transportation0.6%
Fort Wayne
104.1
Las Cruces
103.5
🏥 Healthcare0.6%
Fort Wayne
94.2
Las Cruces
93.6
Utilities9.6%
Fort Wayne
86.2
Las Cruces
77.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Las Cruces, NM
$77,900
$2,100 less needed in Las Cruces

Formula: salary × (90.2 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 0.9741. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fort Wayne, IN

Median Home Price
$245,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Housing Index
72.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.8×

Las Cruces, NM

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

Fort Wayne has 12.9% lower housing costs compared to Las Cruces.

Income & Job Market

Fort Wayne, IN

Median Household Income
$66,300
Per Capita Income
$37,800
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
270,402
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceRetailGovernment

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).

Fort Wayne, IN
4.8×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)

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.