Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Arlington?

Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Arlington, TX's $1,370, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $47,000 in Arlington.

Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Arlington?

Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Arlington under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Albuquerque vs Arlington Cost of Living 2026

Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,040/mo est.

Arlington

Texas

$1,370/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,040 in Albuquerque, NM versus $1,370 in Arlington, TX. Overall, Albuquerque, NM is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Arlington, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $73,519 in Arlington, TX — about 11% higher in Arlington, TX. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM

Arlington, TX

Rent

Studio

$797

$1,088

+37% in Arlington, TX

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,183

+33% in Arlington, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,140

$1,410

+24% in Arlington, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,459

$1,819

+25% in Arlington, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$266,700

$276,400

+4% in Arlington, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$65,604

$73,519

+12% in Arlington, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,060

$51,440

+7% in Arlington, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.7 yr

33.6 yr

+5.1 yr in Albuquerque, NM

Homeownership

61.5%

54.8%

+6.7 pp in Albuquerque, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.7%

33.1%

+5.6 pp in Albuquerque, NM

Avg Commute

22.2 min

26.7 min

+4.5 min in Arlington, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,193.2

492.4

+59% in Albuquerque, NM

Property Crime

4,766.2

2,433.5

+49% 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

65.4°F

+8.2°F in Arlington, TX

Annual Precipitation

9.4 in

39.6 in

+30.2 in in Arlington, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.99/gal

$3.96/gal

+1% in Albuquerque, NM

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

Free

N/A

Adult base one-way fare — ABQ RIDE vs Arlington On-Demand (Via) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.8

16.4

+11% in Arlington, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.90

$24.61

+107% in Arlington, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

$4.16

+5% in Albuquerque, NM

Bread (lb)

$2.10

$1.73

+18% in Albuquerque, NM

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

$2.19

+3% in Albuquerque, NM

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

$6.56

+9% in Albuquerque, NM

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

$1.90

+11% in Albuquerque, NM

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

$0.61

+17% in Albuquerque, NM

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NM / TX)

4.875%

6.25%

+1.4 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

5.90%

None

+5.9 pp in NM

Albuquerque vs Arlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Arlington?: Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Arlington, TX's $1,370, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Arlington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $47,000 in Arlington.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Arlington?: Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Arlington under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).