CostIndexUSA

Las Cruces, NM vs San Bernardino, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNM
Las Cruces
90.2
overall index
$1,375/mo rent
CA
San Bernardino
106.4
overall index
$2,475/mo rent

Las Cruces is significantly cheaper than San Bernardino — 18.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Las Cruces, you would need $94,400 in San Bernardino. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+105.2%
Las Cruces
63
San Bernardino
129.3
🛒 Groceries+5.5%
Las Cruces
96.1
San Bernardino
101.4
🚗 Transportation+2.7%
Las Cruces
103.5
San Bernardino
106.3
🏥 Healthcare+2.8%
Las Cruces
93.6
San Bernardino
96.2
Utilities+90.8%
Las Cruces
77.9
San Bernardino
148.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in San Bernardino, CA
$94,400
$14,400 more needed in San Bernardino

Formula: salary × (106.4 ÷ 90.2) = salary × 1.1796. 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×

San Bernardino, CA

Median Home Price
$576,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,475
Housing Index
129.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.4×

San Bernardino has 105.2% 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

San Bernardino, CA

Median Household Income
$87,800
Per Capita Income
$50,000
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
222,101
Top Industries
HealthcareLogisticsGovernmentRetailManufacturing

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)

San Bernardino, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

66% 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.