Residential comparison · 13 facts
Las Cruces, NM vs Santa Fe, NM
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Las Cruces needs about $92,000 in Santa Fe to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Santa Fe, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $78,000 in Las Cruces.
A few differences
- Santa Fe is higher on median household income ($73,482 vs $55,422).
- Las Cruces is lower on cost of living index (82 vs 103).
- Las Cruces is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($964/mo vs $1,647/mo).
Las Cruces vs Santa Fe · facet by facet
| Facet | Las Cruces, NM | Santa Fe, NM |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $231,700 | $444,900 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $964/mo | $1,647/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| State & local income tax | 2.74% | 2.74% |
| Sales tax | 7.6% | 7.6% |
| Cost of living index | 82 | 103 |
| Groceries index | 98 | 98 |
| Utilities | $145/mo | $145/mo |
| Median household income | $55,422 | $73,482 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% | 3.9% |
| Crime index | 80/100 | 80/100 |
| School rating | 3.5/10 | 3.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 280 days | 280 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Las Cruces, NM · Santa Fe, NM
Questions & answers
- Is Las Cruces cheaper than Santa Fe?
- Las Cruces has the lower day-to-day cost index (82 vs 103 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Santa Fe equals $85,000 in Las Cruces?
- A household earning $85,000 in Las Cruces needs about $92,000 in Santa Fe to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Santa Fe lifestyle costs about $78,000 in Las Cruces.