Example household · Las Cruces, NM · $83,730 · same pay · 1 adult

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Las Cruces vs Tucson

Las Cruces and Tucson

Photo: Sahmeditor / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.

Same pay in both cities. One adult, one bedroom.

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So you know: homicide deaths in Tucson are above the US rate in this release, 7.4 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).

Why people look at Las Cruces to Tucson

In 2022-2023, 73 households filed a move from Las Cruces to Tucson (about 128 people, average adjusted gross income $64,178). 45 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.

A one-bedroom asking rent is about $862 in Las Cruces and $1,009 in Tucson. Las Cruces has a state tax on wages. Tucson has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Tucson is 89% of the national level for the same work, against 80% in Las Cruces.

Tucson averages 286 sunny days, with July highs around 100°F and January nights around 41°F. Las Cruces is 285 sunny days, 99°F in July, 34°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Tucson and 22 in Las Cruces.

These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.

How we figure this

Who already made this move

In 2022-2023, 73 households moved Las Cruces → Tucson (about 128 people, average AGI $64,178). 45 households went the other way.

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.

The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Las Cruces and Tucson changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.

What the move itself costs

About 347 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.

Full-service mover
$1,900–$3,600
Container or pod
$1,300–$2,450
Rent a truck
$550–$1,050

Movers in Tucson and how to hire one →

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Questions

Is Tucson cheaper than Las Cruces after tax and rent?

No. Tucson leaves about $6 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $862 in Las Cruces and $1,009 in Tucson.

Does Tucson have state income tax?

Tucson is in Arizona, which taxes wage income.

Did people actually move from Las Cruces to Tucson?

Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.