CostIndexUSA

La Crosse, WI vs Las Cruces, NM Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WI
La Crosse
91.8
overall index
$1,200/mo rent
More AffordableNM
Las Cruces
90.2
overall index
$1,375/mo rent

Las Cruces is slightly cheaper than La Crosse — 1.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in La Crosse, you would need $78,600 in Las Cruces. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing9.2%
La Crosse
69.4
Las Cruces
63
🛒 Groceries+2.5%
La Crosse
93.8
Las Cruces
96.1
🚗 Transportation0.9%
La Crosse
104.4
Las Cruces
103.5
🏥 Healthcare1.0%
La Crosse
94.5
Las Cruces
93.6
Utilities13.0%
La Crosse
89.5
Las Cruces
77.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Las Cruces, NM
$78,600
$1,400 less needed in Las Cruces

Formula: salary × (90.2 ÷ 91.8) = salary × 0.9826. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

La Crosse, WI

Median Home Price
$315,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,200
Housing Index
69.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.9×

Las Cruces, NM

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

La Crosse has 9.2% lower housing costs compared to Las Cruces.

Income & Job Market

La Crosse, WI

Median Household Income
$71,300
Per Capita Income
$40,600
Unemployment Rate
3.1%
Population
52,680
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingRetailTourism

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).

La Crosse, WI
5.0×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.