Living Cost Compare
Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/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 $1,010 in Baton Rouge, LA. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Albuquerque, NM, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA — about 24% higher in Albuquerque, NM. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM
Baton Rouge, LA

Rent

Studio
$797
$881
+11% in Baton Rouge, LA
1 Bedroom
$889
$854
+4% in Albuquerque, NM
2 Bedroom
$1,140
$1,075
+6% in Albuquerque, NM
3 Bedroom
$1,459
$1,241
+15% in Albuquerque, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,700
$224,500
+16% in Albuquerque, NM

Income

Median Household Income
$65,604
$49,944
+24% in Albuquerque, NM
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,060
$48,710
+1% in Baton Rouge, LA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.7 yr
31.8 yr
+6.9 yr in Albuquerque, NM
Homeownership
61.5%
46.9%
+14.6 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
35.8%
+2.9 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Avg Commute
22.2 min
21.1 min
+1.1 min in Albuquerque, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,194.3
305
+74% in Albuquerque, NM
Property Crime
4,766.6
1,756.3
+63% 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
68.5°F
+11.3°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
9.4 in
60.6 in
+51.2 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.62/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
Free
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
14.2
+0% in Baton Rouge, LA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.90
$16.62
+40% in Baton Rouge, LA

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 Baton Rouge, LA
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 / LA)
4.875%
5%
+0.1 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.90%
3.00%
+2.9 pp in NM

Albuquerque vs Baton Rouge — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Baton Rouge?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Albuquerque, NM's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Baton Rouge?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $34,000 in Baton Rouge.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Baton Rouge?
Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Baton Rouge under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% 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).