Las Cruces, NM vs Columbus, OH: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Columbus, OH has a modeled overall cost index 4.7% higher than Las Cruces, NM.

Las Cruces, NM · modeled 2BR rent
$1,090 / month
Columbus, OH · modeled 2BR rent
$1,315 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Las Cruces, NM and Columbus, OH using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $593/month in Columbus, OH

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $157,119 in Columbus, OH

Regional cost estimates: Las Cruces, NM uses El Paso, TX. Columbus, OH uses Columbus, OH Metropolitan Area. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 4.7%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$593
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$7.1K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Las Cruces, NM

Population:115K
Cost Index:
85.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$279K

Columbus, OH

Population:906K
Cost Index:
90.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$263K

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Las Cruces, NM

The Land of Enchantment

115K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in New Mexico, this city has a population of 115K residents.

Columbus, OH

The Buckeye State

906K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Ohio, this city has a population of 906K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Las Cruces, NM vs Columbus, OH

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↑ 15.2%
Las Cruces, NM
$2,055
Columbus, OH
$2,368
Difference
$313
more
Transportation
↑ 12.5%
Las Cruces, NM
$1,400
Columbus, OH
$1,576
Difference
$175
more
Healthcare
↑ 22.4%
Las Cruces, NM
$572
Columbus, OH
$700
Difference
$128
more
Other
↓ 2.8%
Las Cruces, NM
$1,848
Columbus, OH
$1,796
Difference
$52.22
less
Groceries
↑ 4.4%
Las Cruces, NM
$1,071
Columbus, OH
$1,118
Difference
$47.34
more
All Utilities
↓ 3.4%
Las Cruces, NM
$554
Columbus, OH
$536
Difference
$18.60
less

🏛️ Local Income Taxes

Columbus, OH: Columbus Municipal Income Tax$3,750/yr (2.5%)

Las Cruces, NM has no local income tax recorded in this dataset.

Local taxes are shown separately and are not included in the living-cost totals. Coverage is incomplete; an absent entry does not establish that no tax applies.

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$780
To$1,020
↑ $240
1 Bed
From$990
To$1,100
↑ $110
2 Bed
From$1,090
To$1,315
↑ $225
3 Bed
From$1,520
To$1,575
↑ $55.00
Las Cruces, NMZIP-level data

1BR range: $950–$1,260/mo

Columbus, OHZIP-level data

1BR range: $870–$1,790/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Las Cruces, NM
$8,093
Monthly in Columbus, OH
$593
Difference

Home Values

Las Cruces
Columbus
$279K
Median Value
$263K
↓ -0.9%
YoY Change
↓ -0.4%
↑ +42%
5-Year Change
↑ +28.8%
$203K - $351K
Price Range
$95K - $406K

Homes in Columbus are 6% less expensive than Las Cruces

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $2.6K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$220
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.8%
Rate difference

Las Cruces, NM

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
New Mexico State Tax
Effective: 4.7%
$7.1K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.4%
$44.1K
Take-Home Pay
$8,826/month
$105.9K

Columbus, OH

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Ohio State Tax
Effective: 3.0%
$4.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.6%
$41.4K
Take-Home Pay
$9,047/month
$108.6K

Additional Tax Information

Las Cruces, NM Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.6%
Property Tax:0.8%

Columbus, OH Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%
Property Tax:1.6%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

🚶 Walkability

Modeled road attributes, not a safety assessment. Methodology and limitations

Environment

Las Cruces
Columbus
67 Moderate
Air Quality
53 Moderate
22.1%
Good Air Days
41.3%
95 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌡☀
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+2.7°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
97 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days
▲+2.7°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
97 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days

Before moving from Las Cruces, NM to Columbus, OH

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Columbus, OH for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Las Cruces, NM. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Las Cruces to Columbus moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Columbus, OH by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Las Cruces, NM vs Columbus, OH

How do the cost estimates for Las Cruces, NM and Columbus, OH compare?

Columbus, OH has a modeled overall cost index 4.7% higher than Las Cruces, NM. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Las Cruces, NM, the model estimates $157,119 in Columbus, OH. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Las Cruces, NM and Columbus, OH?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,090/month in Las Cruces, NM and $1,315/month in Columbus, OH. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between New Mexico and Ohio on TaxTakeHome.com

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