CostIndexUSA

Las Cruces, NM vs Wichita, KS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NM
Las Cruces
90.2
overall index
$1,375/mo rent
More AffordableKS
Wichita
88.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Wichita is slightly cheaper than Las Cruces — 1.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Las Cruces, you would need $78,800 in Wichita. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+5.1%
Las Cruces
63
Wichita
66.2
🛒 Groceries2.2%
Las Cruces
96.1
Wichita
94
🚗 Transportation4.8%
Las Cruces
103.5
Wichita
98.5
🏥 Healthcare4.8%
Las Cruces
93.6
Wichita
89.1
Utilities+13.6%
Las Cruces
77.9
Wichita
88.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Wichita, KS
$78,800
$1,200 less needed in Wichita

Formula: salary × (88.9 ÷ 90.2) = salary × 0.9856. 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×

Wichita, KS

Median Home Price
$213,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Housing Index
66.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.4×

Wichita has 5.1% 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

Wichita, KS

Median Household Income
$67,400
Per Capita Income
$38,400
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
397,532
Top Industries
AerospaceManufacturingHealthcareAgricultureEnergy

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)

Wichita, KS
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.