CostIndexUSA

Las Cruces, NM vs Little Rock, AR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NM
Las Cruces
90.2
overall index
$1,375/mo rent
More AffordableAR
Little Rock
89.4
overall index
$1,200/mo rent

Little Rock is slightly cheaper than Las Cruces — 0.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Las Cruces, you would need $79,300 in Little Rock. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+8.4%
Las Cruces
63
Little Rock
68.3
🛒 Groceries2.6%
Las Cruces
96.1
Little Rock
93.6
🚗 Transportation3.3%
Las Cruces
103.5
Little Rock
100.1
🏥 Healthcare3.3%
Las Cruces
93.6
Little Rock
90.5
Utilities4.2%
Las Cruces
77.9
Little Rock
74.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Little Rock, AR
$79,300
$700 less needed in Little Rock

Formula: salary × (89.4 ÷ 90.2) = salary × 0.9911. 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×

Little Rock, AR

Median Home Price
$222,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,200
Housing Index
68.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.4×

Little Rock has 8.4% 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

Little Rock, AR

Median Household Income
$66,200
Per Capita Income
$37,700
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
202,591
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareRetailFinanceManufacturing

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)

Little Rock, AR
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.