CostIndexUSA

Las Cruces, NM vs Palm Bay, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNM
Las Cruces
90.2
overall index
$1,375/mo rent
FL
Palm Bay
100
overall index
$1,875/mo rent

Las Cruces is moderately cheaper than Palm Bay — 10.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Las Cruces, you would need $88,700 in Palm Bay. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+77.3%
Las Cruces
63
Palm Bay
111.7
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Las Cruces
96.1
Palm Bay
96.2
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Las Cruces
103.5
Palm Bay
103.8
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Las Cruces
93.6
Palm Bay
93.9
Utilities+13.1%
Las Cruces
77.9
Palm Bay
88.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Palm Bay, FL
$88,700
$8,700 more needed in Palm Bay

Formula: salary × (100 ÷ 90.2) = salary × 1.1086. 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×

Palm Bay, FL

Median Home Price
$336,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
111.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.9×

Palm Bay has 77.3% 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

Palm Bay, FL

Median Household Income
$78,600
Per Capita Income
$44,800
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
119,760
Top Industries
AerospaceHealthcareTechnologyManufacturingRetail

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)

Palm Bay, FL
3.5×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.