Living Cost Compare
Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Annapolis

Maryland

$1,820/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 $1,820 in Annapolis, MD. Overall, Albuquerque, NM is roughly 43% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Annapolis, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $104,257 in Annapolis, MD — about 37% higher in Annapolis, MD. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM
Annapolis, MD

Rent

Studio
$797
$1,239
+55% in Annapolis, MD
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,598
+80% in Annapolis, MD
2 Bedroom
$1,140
$1,864
+64% in Annapolis, MD
3 Bedroom
$1,459
$2,232
+53% in Annapolis, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,700
$510,200
+91% in Annapolis, MD

Income

Median Household Income
$65,604
$104,257
+59% in Annapolis, MD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,060
$59,070
+23% in Annapolis, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.7 yr
40.9 yr
+2.2 yr in Annapolis, MD
Homeownership
61.5%
59.8%
+1.7 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
53.7%
+15.0 pp in Annapolis, MD
Avg Commute
22.2 min
28.7 min
+6.5 min in Annapolis, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,194.3
806
+33% in Albuquerque, NM
Property Crime
4,766.6
2,111.5
+56% 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
57.1°F
+0.1°F in Albuquerque, NM
Annual Precipitation
9.4 in
—

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Annapolis, MD

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
21.8
+54% in Annapolis, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.90
$18.94
+59% in Annapolis, MD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Albuquerque, NM
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Albuquerque, NM
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Annapolis, MD
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Albuquerque, NM
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Albuquerque, NM
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Albuquerque, NM

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NM / MD)
4.875%
6%
+1.1 pp in MD
Income Tax (top rate)
5.90%
6.50%
+0.6 pp in MD

Albuquerque vs Annapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Annapolis?
Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 43% below Annapolis, MD's $1,820, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Annapolis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $64,000 in Annapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Annapolis?
Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Annapolis under Maryland's (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% 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).