Relocation profile · Federal data
Las Cruces, NM
BEA RPP 90.2 ranks #103 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
- 90.2
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,042
- 2BR rent / mo
- $62,792
- Median salary
- 51.6
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Las Cruces ranks #191 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (51.6/100), with its strongest marks in housing and cost of living.
- #191
- of 387 US metros · Above median
- 2,130,256
- metro-area population
- 697
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 873
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: safety (1/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Las Cruces ranks #191 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 90.2 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,042/mo, median salary $62,792; LiveAbility Score 51.6/100, strongest in housing and cost of living.
Signature: BEA RPP 90.2 ranks #103 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 90.2 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,042/mo.
LiveAbility 51.6/100 keeps Las Cruces in the middle third (#191 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Las Cruces area is 72,370.
Las Cruces vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
52 Top 50% higher than 50% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Las Cruces housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Las Cruces MSA; housing RPP 63.0 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,042/mo.
Las Cruces wages and employment
Las Cruces posts 72,370 total employment with median salary $62,792 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $27,840 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,560 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $41,030 |
| Retail Salespersons | $30,460 |
| Cashiers | $28,710 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Las Cruces area from NCES.
Life Score Breakdown
Las Cruces's composite Life Score is 53.5/100 (D), computed across 6 of 7 dimensions (missing dims omitted; remaining weights renormalized).
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Las Cruces ranks #191 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 51.6/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Las Cruces - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Housing
Housing
89 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
74 /100
- Schools
Schools
71 /100
- Low hazard
Low hazard
69 /100
- Climate
Climate
48 /100
- Job market
Job market
36 /100
- Air quality 4
Air quality
4 /100
- Safety 1
Safety
1 /100
What this shows Las Cruces's strongest dimensions are housing and cost of living; its weakest among scored dims is safety at 1/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Las Cruces to
Metros near Las Cruces on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Las Cruces on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Las Cruces cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Las Cruces wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Las Cruces?
Las Cruces runs a $62,792 median salary at a 90.2 cost index, ranking #191 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Las Cruces's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Las Cruces head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Las Cruces
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.