Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Aurora?

Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Aurora, CO's $1,300, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $46,000 in Aurora.

Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Aurora?

Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Aurora under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax).

Albuquerque vs Aurora Cost of Living 2026

Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,040/mo est.

Aurora

Colorado

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Aurora, CO. Overall, Albuquerque, NM is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Aurora, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $85,364 in Aurora, CO — about 23% higher in Aurora, CO. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM

Aurora, CO

Rent

Studio

$797

—

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,138

+28% in Aurora, CO

2 Bedroom

$1,140

$2,284

+100% in Aurora, CO

3 Bedroom

$1,459

$2,320

+59% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$266,700

$689,000

+158% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$65,604

$85,364

+30% in Aurora, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,060

$62,320

+30% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.7 yr

35.3 yr

+3.4 yr in Albuquerque, NM

Homeownership

61.5%

46.0%

+15.5 pp in Albuquerque, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.7%

41.4%

+2.7 pp in Aurora, CO

Avg Commute

22.2 min

18.7 min

+3.5 min in Albuquerque, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,193.2

952.4

+20% in Albuquerque, NM

Property Crime

4,766.2

3,366.6

+29% 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

50.2°F

+7.0°F in Albuquerque, NM

Annual Precipitation

9.4 in

15.6 in

+6.1 in in Aurora, CO

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.99/gal

$4.54/gal

+14% in Aurora, CO

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Colorado.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

Free

$2.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.8

16.7

+13% in Aurora, CO

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.90

$11.64

+2% in Albuquerque, NM

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.10

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NM / CO)

4.875%

2.9%

+2.0 pp in NM

Income Tax (top rate)

5.90%

4.40%

+1.5 pp in NM

Albuquerque vs Aurora — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Aurora?: Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Aurora, CO's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Aurora?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $46,000 in Aurora.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Aurora?: Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Aurora under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).