CostIndexUSA

Fargo, ND vs Las Cruces, NM Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

ND
Fargo
90.9
overall index
$1,100/mo rent
More AffordableNM
Las Cruces
90.2
overall index
$1,375/mo rent

Las Cruces is slightly cheaper than Fargo — 0.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fargo, you would need $79,400 in Las Cruces. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing22.3%
Fargo
81.1
Las Cruces
63
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Fargo
95.7
Las Cruces
96.1
🚗 Transportation+7.9%
Fargo
95.9
Las Cruces
103.5
🏥 Healthcare+7.8%
Fargo
86.8
Las Cruces
93.6
Utilities+0.8%
Fargo
77.3
Las Cruces
77.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Las Cruces, NM
$79,400
$600 less needed in Las Cruces

Formula: salary × (90.2 ÷ 90.9) = salary × 0.9923. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fargo, ND

Median Home Price
$313,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
81.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.7×

Las Cruces, NM

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

Fargo has 22.3% lower housing costs compared to Las Cruces.

Income & Job Market

Fargo, ND

Median Household Income
$72,900
Per Capita Income
$41,600
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
125,990
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceEducationTechnologyRetail

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).

Fargo, ND
5.5×income-to-rent ratio

82% 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.