CostIndexUSA

Las Cruces, NM vs Lincoln, NE Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNM
Las Cruces
90.2
overall index
$1,375/mo rent
NE
Lincoln
91.6
overall index
$1,275/mo rent

Las Cruces is slightly cheaper than Lincoln — 1.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Las Cruces, you would need $81,200 in Lincoln. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+33.7%
Las Cruces
63
Lincoln
84.2
🛒 Groceries2.1%
Las Cruces
96.1
Lincoln
94.1
🚗 Transportation5.7%
Las Cruces
103.5
Lincoln
97.6
🏥 Healthcare5.7%
Las Cruces
93.6
Lincoln
88.3
Utilities1.4%
Las Cruces
77.9
Lincoln
76.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lincoln, NE
$81,200
$1,200 more needed in Lincoln

Formula: salary × (91.6 ÷ 90.2) = salary × 1.0155. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Las Cruces, NM

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

Lincoln, NE

Median Home Price
$289,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,275
Housing Index
84.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.9×

Lincoln has 33.7% higher housing costs compared to Las Cruces.

Income & Job Market

Las Cruces, NM

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

Lincoln, NE

Median Household Income
$71,200
Per Capita Income
$40,600
Unemployment Rate
2.7%
Population
289,102
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareGovernmentFinanceManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

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

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

71% of income left after rent (median)

Lincoln, NE
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.