City Comparison

Juneau vs Las Cruces

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Juneau

Alaska
127
Expensive
$524,000
Median Home
$1,475/mo
Median Rent
$105,000
Median Income

Las Cruces

New Mexico
84
Very Affordable
$232,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$55,400
Median Income

The Verdict

51.2%

Living in Las Cruces costs 51.2% less than Juneau. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Juneau, you would need $49,606 in Las Cruces.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
131
Juneau
82
Las Cruces
Groceries
123
Juneau
97
Las Cruces
Utilities
140
Juneau
81
Las Cruces
Transportation
125
Juneau
92
Las Cruces
Healthcare
151
Juneau
113
Las Cruces

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Juneau has the same purchasing power as $49,606 in Las Cruces.

Conversely, $75,000 in Las Cruces equals $113,393 in Juneau.

Living in Juneau vs Las Cruces

Housing Costs

Juneau's housing index of 131 is higher Las Cruces's 82, translating to median home prices of $524,000 vs $232,000. The $292,000 difference in home prices means roughly $18,984 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,475/mo in Juneau compared to $1,000/mo in Las Cruces, a monthly difference of $475.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 123 in Juneau and 97 in Las Cruces. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $584/month in Juneau vs $461/month in Las Cruces. Las Cruces offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1476/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 140 in Juneau and 81 in Las Cruces. Monthly utility bills average approximately $560 in Juneau vs $324 in Las Cruces. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 151 in Juneau and 113 in Las Cruces. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 38-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $105,000 in Juneau and $55,400 in Las Cruces. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,677 and $65,952 respectively. Juneau residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,450/month to housing in Juneau vs $1,293/month in Las Cruces. In Juneau, median rent of $1,475/mo fits within this budget. In Las Cruces, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 59 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Las Cruces is 51.2% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 127.
A $75,000 salary in Juneau has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $49,606 in Las Cruces, based on the cost of living difference.
Juneau's housing index is 131 with median homes at $524,000, while Las Cruces's is 82 with median homes at $232,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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