CostIndexUSA

Las Cruces, NM vs New Orleans, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNM
Las Cruces
90.2
overall index
$1,375/mo rent
LA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

Las Cruces is slightly cheaper than New Orleans — 2.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Las Cruces, you would need $82,100 in New Orleans. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+36.5%
Las Cruces
63
New Orleans
86
🛒 Groceries−2.5%
Las Cruces
96.1
New Orleans
93.7
🚗 Transportation−2.9%
Las Cruces
103.5
New Orleans
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−2.9%
Las Cruces
93.6
New Orleans
90.9
⚡ Utilities−8.6%
Las Cruces
77.9
New Orleans
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in New Orleans, LA
$82,100
$2,100 more needed in New Orleans

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 90.2) = salary × 1.0266. 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×

New Orleans, LA

Median Home Price
$253,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,575
Housing Index
86
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.4×

New Orleans has 36.5% 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

New Orleans, LA

Median Household Income
$61,000
Per Capita Income
$34,800
Unemployment Rate
5%
Population
383,997
Top Industries
TourismEnergyHealthcareShippingEntertainment

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)

New Orleans, LA
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

69% of income left after rent (median)

Las Cruces vs other cities

Las Cruces, NM
vs
Albuquerque, NM
Index: 90.2Index: 95.5
Las Cruces, NM
vs
Santa Fe, NM
Index: 90.2Index: 98.8
Las Cruces, NM
vs
Pueblo, CO
Index: 90.2Index: 91.8
Las Cruces, NM
vs
Lansing, MI
Index: 90.2Index: 95
Las Cruces, NM
vs
Peoria, IL
Index: 90.2Index: 91.2

New Orleans vs other cities

New Orleans, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 92.6Index: 90.8
New Orleans, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 92.6Index: 87.2
New Orleans, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 92.6Index: 85.9
New Orleans, LA
vs
Bakersfield, CA
Index: 92.6Index: 100.9
New Orleans, LA
vs
Arlington, TX
Index: 92.6Index: 103.1

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.