Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Las Cruces, NM Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Las Cruces, NM

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $1,883 in Las Cruces, NM.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $2,882 in Las Cruces, NM.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $3,881 in Las Cruces, NM.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 44% more expensive than Las Cruces, NM, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Las Cruces, NM 41% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$19.87 $19.87

0.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$47.23 $47.23

61.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$12.21 $12.21

-17.04%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$5.20 $5.20

5.58%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.74 $2.74

-0.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.87 $1.87

14.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$5.10 $5.10

19.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$5.89 $5.89

36.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.72 $0.72

51.39%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.42 $2.42

38.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$2.63 $2.63

30.04%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$3.14 $3.14

37.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$11.46 $11.46

2.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$11.27 $11.27

-5.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$12.22 $12.22

18.66%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$3.94 $3.94

21.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.27 $1.27

18.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.79 $3.79

19.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$2.38 $2.38

69.75%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.02 $2.02

36.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.28 $2.28

22.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.84 $1.84

10.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.26 $1.26

70.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$8.46 $8.46

9.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$14.83 $14.83

-0.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.06 $2.06

11.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.17 $3.17

11.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$4.44 $4.44

-65.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

$32.07 $32.07

36.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$1.67 $1.67

156.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.91 $2.91

-37.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$27.18 $27.18

30.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.73 $0.73

5.48%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.6K $25.6K

$23.6K $23.6K

8.57%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.3K $26.3K

$23.5K $23.5K

11.95%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$172 $172

$127 $127

36.02%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$60.3 $60.3

$53.3 $53.3

13.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$72.2 $72.2

-6.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$39.48 $39.48

59.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

$19.26 $19.26

-48.86%

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$9.88 $9.88

49.09%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,398 $1,398

$441 $441

216.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$7,040 $7,040

209.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$40.51 $40.51

36.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$32.04 $32.04

42.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$72.1 $72.1

20.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$99.7 $99.7

15.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$964 $964

132.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$769 $769

82.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$1,890 $1,890

100.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$1,434 $1,434

88.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$1,993 $1,993

266.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$1,990 $1,990

67.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$3,656 $3,656

34.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.51

-0.92%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Las Cruces, NM: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $964 in Las Cruces, NM. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 34% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $76 in Austin, TX vs $47 in Las Cruces, NM for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $316 per month, with Las Cruces, NM cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Austin, TX vs Las Cruces, NM: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Las Cruces, NM wins on cost – living expenses run 44% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Las Cruces, NM the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 34% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $964 in Las Cruces, NM. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,719 per month in Austin, TX versus $1,883 in Las Cruces, NM – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Las Cruces, NM runs roughly 36% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,883 in Las Cruces, NM versus $2,719 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Las Cruces, NM but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Las Cruces, NM the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Las Cruces, NM gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.