Rents are 2% below what Las Cruces's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,435 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: August 17, 2026
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Las Cruces, NM is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 36.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Las Cruces, NM has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2021, rent in Las Cruces, NM has increased by $427 per month, settling near $1,435 after starting the period at $1,008. Census figures show median household income at $55,422 today, compared with $47,722 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 26.3 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 109,934 to 114,197 between 2021 and 2024, a 3.9% change. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
Discussions about Las Cruces
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Las Cruces on your salary?
At $1,435/mo, how Las Cruces rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Las Cruces rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Las Cruces. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Las Cruces
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Las Cruces is $1,435/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $800/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,124/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,016/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,562/mo.
At 31% of local median household income ($55,422/yr), Las Cruces ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 12.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Las Cruces an affordable city for renters?
How much income do you need to rent in Las Cruces?
Is rent going up or down in Las Cruces?
Which Las Cruces neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Las Cruces rent compare to other cities in New Mexico?
What percentage of Las Cruces residents rent vs. own?
How does Las Cruces rent compare to the national average?
At $1,435/mo, rent takes ~31% of Las Cruces's median household income ($55,422/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Las Cruces.
No discussions yet.
