Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Allentown?

Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Allentown, PA's $1,320, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Allentown?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $44,000 in Allentown.

Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Allentown?

Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Allentown under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax).

Albuquerque vs Allentown Cost of Living 2026

Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,030/mo est.

Allentown

Pennsylvania

$1,320/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,030 in Albuquerque, NM versus $1,320 in Allentown, PA. Overall, Albuquerque, NM is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Allentown, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $53,403 in Allentown, PA — about 19% higher in Albuquerque, NM. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM

Allentown, PA

Rent

Studio

$797

$1,043

+31% in Allentown, PA

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,100

+24% in Allentown, PA

2 Bedroom

$1,140

$1,271

+11% in Allentown, PA

3 Bedroom

$1,459

$1,431

+2% in Albuquerque, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$266,700

$188,900

+29% in Albuquerque, NM

Income

Median Household Income

$65,604

$53,403

+19% in Albuquerque, NM

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,060

$48,990

+2% in Allentown, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.7 yr

32.4 yr

+6.3 yr in Albuquerque, NM

Homeownership

61.5%

42.3%

+19.2 pp in Albuquerque, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.7%

19.4%

+19.3 pp in Albuquerque, NM

Avg Commute

22.2 min

24.8 min

+2.6 min in Allentown, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,194.3

274.5

+77% in Albuquerque, NM

Property Crime

4,766.6

1,591.5

+67% in Albuquerque, NM

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

57.2°F

51.2°F

+6.0°F in Albuquerque, NM

Annual Precipitation

9.4 in

45.4 in

+35.9 in in Allentown, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.86/gal

+7% in Allentown, PA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

Free

—

Adult base one-way fare — ABQ RIDE vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

21.6

+53% in Allentown, PA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.90

$19.17

+61% in Allentown, PA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Albuquerque, NM

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.92

+6% in Albuquerque, NM

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Albuquerque, NM

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Allentown, PA

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

Average prices — West vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NM / PA)

4.875%

+1.1 pp in PA

Income Tax (top rate)

5.90%

3.07%

+2.8 pp in NM

Albuquerque vs Allentown — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Allentown?: Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Allentown, PA's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Allentown?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $44,000 in Allentown.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Allentown?: Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Allentown under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).