CostIndexUSA

Las Cruces, NM vs Monroe, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NM
Las Cruces
90.2
overall index
$1,375/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Monroe
83.6
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Monroe is moderately cheaper than Las Cruces — 7.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Las Cruces, you would need $74,100 in Monroe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−32.1%
Las Cruces
63
Monroe
42.8
🛒 Groceries−2.5%
Las Cruces
96.1
Monroe
93.7
🚗 Transportation−2.9%
Las Cruces
103.5
Monroe
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−2.9%
Las Cruces
93.6
Monroe
90.9
⚡ Utilities−7.3%
Las Cruces
77.9
Monroe
72.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Monroe, LA
$74,100
$5,900 less needed in Monroe

Formula: salary × (83.6 ÷ 90.2) = salary × 0.9268. 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×

Monroe, LA

Median Home Price
$157,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
42.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.9×

Las Cruces has 32.1% lower housing costs compared to Monroe.

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

Monroe, LA

Median Household Income
$50,300
Per Capita Income
$28,700
Unemployment Rate
7.3%
Population
47,252
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingGovernmentRetail

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)

Monroe, LA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Las Cruces vs other cities

Las Cruces, NM
vs
Albuquerque, NM
Index: 90.2Index: 95.5
Las Cruces, NM
vs
Santa Fe, NM
Index: 90.2Index: 98.8
Las Cruces, NM
vs
Pueblo, CO
Index: 90.2Index: 91.8
Las Cruces, NM
vs
Lansing, MI
Index: 90.2Index: 95
Las Cruces, NM
vs
Peoria, IL
Index: 90.2Index: 91.2

Monroe vs other cities

Monroe, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 90.8
Monroe, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 87.2
Monroe, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 85.9
Monroe, LA
vs
Charleston, WV
Index: 83.6Index: 88.7
Monroe, LA
vs
San Luis Obispo, CA
Index: 83.6Index: 108.6

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.