CostIndexUSA

Las Cruces, NM vs Missoula, MT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNM
Las Cruces
90.2
overall index
$1,375/mo rent
MT
Missoula
96.4
overall index
$1,550/mo rent

Las Cruces is moderately cheaper than Missoula — 6.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Las Cruces, you would need $85,500 in Missoula. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+50.6%
Las Cruces
63
Missoula
94.9
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Las Cruces
96.1
Missoula
96
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Las Cruces
103.5
Missoula
103.7
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Las Cruces
93.6
Missoula
93.8
Utilities7.4%
Las Cruces
77.9
Missoula
72.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Missoula, MT
$85,500
$5,500 more needed in Missoula

Formula: salary × (96.4 ÷ 90.2) = salary × 1.0687. 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×

Missoula, MT

Median Home Price
$552,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
94.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
29.7×

Missoula has 50.6% 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

Missoula, MT

Median Household Income
$73,300
Per Capita Income
$41,800
Unemployment Rate
2.5%
Population
73,489
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTourismGovernmentRetail

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)

Missoula, MT
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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.