Living Cost Compare
Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,040/mo est.

vs
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Baltimore, MD. Overall, Albuquerque, NM is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Baltimore, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $59,623 in Baltimore, MD — about 9% higher in Albuquerque, NM. 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
Baltimore, MD

Rent

Studio
$797
$1,050
+32% in Baltimore, MD
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,073
+21% in Baltimore, MD
2 Bedroom
$1,140
$1,353
+19% in Baltimore, MD
3 Bedroom
$1,459
$1,555
+7% in Baltimore, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,700
$219,300
+18% in Albuquerque, NM

Income

Median Household Income
$65,604
$59,623
+9% in Albuquerque, NM
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,060
$59,070
+23% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.7 yr
36.1 yr
+2.6 yr in Albuquerque, NM
Homeownership
61.5%
47.5%
+14.0 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
35.4%
+3.3 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Avg Commute
22.2 min
29.4 min
+7.2 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,193.2
1,616.7
+35% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,766.2
4,202.6
+12% 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
61.4°F
+4.2°F in Baltimore, MD
Annual Precipitation
9.4 in
42.4 in
+33.0 in in Baltimore, MD

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.99/gal
$4.30/gal
+8% in Baltimore, MD

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
Free
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.8
35.9
+142% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.90
$17.19
+44% in Baltimore, MD

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

Albuquerque vs Baltimore — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Baltimore?
Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Baltimore, MD's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Baltimore?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $43,000 in Baltimore.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Baltimore?
Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Baltimore 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).