Costa Mesa vs Las Cruces: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Costa Mesa, CA and Las Cruces, NM, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Las Cruces, NM |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 111,490 | 111,273 |
| Median household income | $104,981 | $51,013 |
| Median home value | $959,800 | $197,200 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $2,268 | $907 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Costa Mesa, CA and Las Cruces, NM comes down to what you value most. Las Cruces has the lower median home value, and Las Cruces has the lower median rent.
Costa Mesa has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Costa Mesa or Las Cruces?
- By median home value, Las Cruces is the cheaper of the two ($197,200 vs $959,800). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Costa Mesa or Las Cruces?
- Median household income is $104,981 in Costa Mesa versus $51,013 in Las Cruces, per the US Census Bureau.