Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Atlanta?

Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Atlanta, GA's $1,740, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $63,000 in Atlanta.

Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Atlanta?

Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Atlanta under Georgia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax).

Albuquerque vs Atlanta Cost of Living 2026

Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,040/mo est.

Atlanta

Georgia

$1,740/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 $1,740 in Atlanta, GA. Overall, Albuquerque, NM is roughly 40% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $81,938 in Atlanta, GA — about 20% higher in Atlanta, GA. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM

Atlanta, GA

Rent

Studio

$797

$1,669

+109% in Atlanta, GA

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,576

+77% in Atlanta, GA

2 Bedroom

$1,140

$1,701

+49% in Atlanta, GA

3 Bedroom

$1,459

$1,557

+7% in Atlanta, GA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$266,700

$420,600

+58% in Atlanta, GA

Income

Median Household Income

$65,604

$81,938

+25% in Atlanta, GA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,060

$51,170

+6% in Atlanta, GA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.7 yr

34.0 yr

+4.7 yr in Albuquerque, NM

Homeownership

61.5%

46.3%

+15.2 pp in Albuquerque, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.7%

58.4%

+19.7 pp in Atlanta, GA

Avg Commute

22.2 min

26.8 min

+4.6 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,193.2

603.5

+49% in Albuquerque, NM

Property Crime

4,766.2

3,548.3

+26% 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

62.6°F

+5.4°F in Atlanta, GA

Annual Precipitation

9.4 in

49.7 in

+40.3 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.99/gal

$4.30/gal

+8% in Atlanta, GA

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

Free

$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.8

15.0

+1% in Atlanta, GA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.90

$18.41

+55% in Atlanta, GA

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 / GA)

4.875%

+0.9 pp in NM

Income Tax (top rate)

5.90%

5.19%

+0.7 pp in NM

Albuquerque vs Atlanta — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Atlanta?: Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Atlanta, GA's $1,740, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Atlanta?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $63,000 in Atlanta.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Atlanta?: Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Atlanta under Georgia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% 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).