City Comparison

Kenosha vs Las Cruces

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Kenosha

Wisconsin
91
Below Average
$275,000
Median Home
$1,250/mo
Median Rent
$68,900
Median Income

Las Cruces

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

The Verdict

8.3%

Living in Las Cruces costs 8.3% less than Kenosha. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Kenosha, you would need $69,231 in Las Cruces.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
82
Kenosha
82
Las Cruces
Groceries
99
Kenosha
97
Las Cruces
Utilities
95
Kenosha
81
Las Cruces
Transportation
103
Kenosha
92
Las Cruces
Healthcare
96
Kenosha
113
Las Cruces

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Kenosha has the same purchasing power as $69,231 in Las Cruces.

Conversely, $75,000 in Las Cruces equals $81,250 in Kenosha.

Living in Kenosha vs Las Cruces

Housing Costs

Kenosha's housing index of 82 is equal to Las Cruces's 82, translating to median home prices of $275,000 vs $232,000. The $43,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,796 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,250/mo in Kenosha compared to $1,000/mo in Las Cruces, a monthly difference of $250.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Kenosha and 97 in Las Cruces. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Kenosha vs $461/month in Las Cruces. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 95 in Kenosha and 81 in Las Cruces. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Kenosha 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 96 in Kenosha and 113 in Las Cruces. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 17-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $68,900 in Kenosha and $55,400 in Las Cruces. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $75,714 and $65,952 respectively. Kenosha residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,608/month to housing in Kenosha vs $1,293/month in Las Cruces. In Kenosha, median rent of $1,250/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 Healthcare, where the gap is 17 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Las Cruces is 8.3% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 91.
A $75,000 salary in Kenosha has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $69,231 in Las Cruces, based on the cost of living difference.
Kenosha's housing index is 82 with median homes at $275,000, while Las Cruces's is 82 with median homes at $232,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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