CostIndexUSA

Las Cruces, NM vs Winston-Salem, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNM
Las Cruces
90.2
overall index
$1,375/mo rent
NC
Winston-Salem
92
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Las Cruces is slightly cheaper than Winston-Salem — 2.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Las Cruces, you would need $81,600 in Winston-Salem. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+13.3%
Las Cruces
63
Winston-Salem
71.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Las Cruces
96.1
Winston-Salem
96.6
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Las Cruces
103.5
Winston-Salem
103.1
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Las Cruces
93.6
Winston-Salem
93.3
Utilities+13.5%
Las Cruces
77.9
Winston-Salem
88.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Winston-Salem, NC
$81,600
$1,600 more needed in Winston-Salem

Formula: salary × (92 ÷ 90.2) = salary × 1.0200. 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×

Winston-Salem, NC

Median Home Price
$355,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,075
Housing Index
71.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
27.5×

Winston-Salem has 13.3% 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

Winston-Salem, NC

Median Household Income
$64,400
Per Capita Income
$36,700
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
247,945
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceEducationGovernment

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)

Winston-Salem, NC
5.0×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.