CostIndexUSA

Appleton, WI vs Las Cruces, NM Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WI
Appleton
92.4
overall index
$1,125/mo rent
More AffordableNM
Las Cruces
90.2
overall index
$1,375/mo rent

Las Cruces is slightly cheaper than Appleton — 2.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Appleton, you would need $78,100 in Las Cruces. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing11.0%
Appleton
70.8
Las Cruces
63
🛒 Groceries+2.5%
Appleton
93.8
Las Cruces
96.1
🚗 Transportation0.9%
Appleton
104.4
Las Cruces
103.5
🏥 Healthcare0.8%
Appleton
94.4
Las Cruces
93.6
Utilities14.0%
Appleton
90.6
Las Cruces
77.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Las Cruces, NM
$78,100
$1,900 less needed in Las Cruces

Formula: salary × (90.2 ÷ 92.4) = salary × 0.9762. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Appleton, WI

Median Home Price
$333,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,125
Housing Index
70.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.7×

Las Cruces, NM

Median Home Price
$282,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,375
Housing Index
63
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.1×

Appleton has 11.0% lower housing costs compared to Las Cruces.

Income & Job Market

Appleton, WI

Median Household Income
$84,000
Per Capita Income
$47,900
Unemployment Rate
1.8%
Population
77,315
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareFinanceRetailEducation

Las Cruces, NM

Median Household Income
$56,500
Per Capita Income
$32,200
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
111,385
Top Industries
EducationGovernmentHealthcareMilitaryRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Appleton, WI
6.2×income-to-rent ratio

84% of income left after rent (median)

Las Cruces, NM
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.