Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Las Cruces, NM?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 35.7% of gross income.

Las Cruces rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Mexico state estimate).

Las Cruces median rent
$1,424/mo
Paramedic salary (New Mexico)
$47,862/yr
Rent as % of income
35.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,989, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,197/mo in rent. Las Cruces's median rent of $1,424 exceeds that threshold by $227/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 61.9 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a paramedic salary

Paramedic and EMT base pay sits modestly below the US median household income and is often supplemented by overtime. At the national-average paramedic salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,330 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These New Mexico cities have lower median rent than Las Cruces, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Hobbs, NM
$1,400/mo (35.1% of income)
Roswell, NM
$1,399/mo (35.1% of income)
Hobbs, NM
$1,398/mo (35.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Las Cruces

View full rent data for Las Cruces, NM

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Las Cruces, NM?

Median rent in Las Cruces is $1,424 a month. A typical paramedic in New Mexico earns about $47,862 a year, which makes that rent 35.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Las Cruces?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in New Mexico (~$47,862/yr) supports up to $1,197 a month in rent. Las Cruces's current median rent is $1,424/mo, which is $227/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a paramedic work to cover rent in Las Cruces?

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a paramedic in New Mexico works roughly 61.9 hours a month to cover Las Cruces's median rent of $1,424.

Where is rent cheaper than Las Cruces for a paramedic?

Nearby New Mexico cities with lower median rent include Hobbs ($1,400/mo), Roswell ($1,399/mo), Hobbs ($1,398/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived New Mexico state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Las Cruces, NM. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.