Salary comparison
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors: Las Cruces vs Portland
Las Cruces, NM pays about 1.2% more for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors on paper — $76,350 vs $75,420. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Las Cruces comes out ahead by $930 a year in real buying power.
Las Cruces, NM
$76,350
$61,180
$79,930
$36.71
100
$76,350/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Portland, OR
$75,420
$59,630
$91,050
$36.26
100
$75,420/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $930 a year (1.2%) in favor of Las Cruces. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Las Cruces runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Portland sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Las Cruces is the better deal by $930 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Portland to Las Cruces for this role, the raise needs to beat 1.2% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors earn more, Las Cruces or Portland?
Las Cruces pays $76,350 on median — about 1.2% more than Portland ($75,420). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Las Cruces. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Las Cruces gives you roughly$76,350 of real buying power versus $75,420 in the other city.