City Comparison

Las Cruces vs Ogden

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Las Cruces

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

Ogden

Utah
107
Above Average
$385,000
Median Home
$1,250/mo
Median Rent
$70,100
Median Income

The Verdict

21.5%

The cost gap between these cities is 21.5%, with Las Cruces being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Las Cruces has equivalent purchasing power to $95,536 in Ogden.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
82
Las Cruces
112
Ogden
Groceries
97
Las Cruces
92
Ogden
Utilities
81
Las Cruces
80
Ogden
Transportation
92
Las Cruces
101
Ogden
Healthcare
113
Las Cruces
91
Ogden

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Las Cruces has the same purchasing power as $95,536 in Ogden.

Conversely, $75,000 in Ogden equals $58,879 in Las Cruces.

Living in Las Cruces vs Ogden

Housing Costs

Las Cruces's housing index of 82 is lower Ogden's 112, translating to median home prices of $232,000 vs $385,000. The $153,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,948 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Las Cruces compared to $1,250/mo in Ogden, a monthly difference of $250.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Las Cruces and 92 in Ogden. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Las Cruces vs $437/month in Ogden. 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 81 in Las Cruces and 80 in Ogden. Monthly utility bills average approximately $324 in Las Cruces vs $320 in Ogden. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 113 in Las Cruces and 91 in Ogden. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 22-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $55,400 in Las Cruces and $70,100 in Ogden. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $65,952 and $65,514 respectively. Las Cruces residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,293/month to housing in Las Cruces vs $1,636/month in Ogden. In Las Cruces, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Ogden, median rent of $1,250/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 30 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Las Cruces is 21.5% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 107.
A $75,000 salary in Las Cruces has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $95,536 in Ogden, based on the cost of living difference.
Las Cruces's housing index is 82 with median homes at $232,000, while Ogden's is 112 with median homes at $385,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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