CostIndexUSA

Las Cruces, NM vs Virginia Beach, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNM
Las Cruces
90.2
overall index
$1,375/mo rent
VA
Virginia Beach
97.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent

Las Cruces is moderately cheaper than Virginia Beach — 8.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Las Cruces, you would need $86,800 in Virginia Beach. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+58.4%
Las Cruces
63
Virginia Beach
99.8
🛒 Groceries+0.7%
Las Cruces
96.1
Virginia Beach
96.8
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Las Cruces
103.5
Virginia Beach
103.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Las Cruces
93.6
Virginia Beach
93.7
Utilities+15.0%
Las Cruces
77.9
Virginia Beach
89.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Virginia Beach, VA
$86,800
$6,800 more needed in Virginia Beach

Formula: salary × (97.9 ÷ 90.2) = salary × 1.0854. 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×

Virginia Beach, VA

Median Home Price
$360,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,800
Housing Index
99.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.7×

Virginia Beach has 58.4% 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

Virginia Beach, VA

Median Household Income
$79,300
Per Capita Income
$45,200
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
459,470
Top Industries
MilitaryTourismHealthcareRetailGovernment

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)

Virginia Beach, VA
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.