Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Cambridge?

Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 63% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $100,000 in Cambridge.

Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Cambridge?

Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Cambridge under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Albuquerque vs Cambridge Cost of Living 2026

Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,040/mo est.

Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/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 $2,810 in Cambridge, MA. Overall, Albuquerque, NM is roughly 63% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $126,469 in Cambridge, MA — about 48% higher in Cambridge, MA. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM

Cambridge, MA

Rent

Studio

$797

$2,236

+181% in Cambridge, MA

1 Bedroom

$889

$2,496

+181% in Cambridge, MA

2 Bedroom

$1,140

$2,980

+161% in Cambridge, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,459

$3,325

+128% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$266,700

$1,040,500

+290% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$65,604

$126,469

+93% in Cambridge, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,060

$66,620

+39% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.7 yr

30.5 yr

+8.2 yr in Albuquerque, NM

Homeownership

61.5%

33.7%

+27.8 pp in Albuquerque, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.7%

80.2%

+41.5 pp in Cambridge, MA

Avg Commute

22.2 min

26.1 min

+3.9 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,194.3

436.7

+63% in Albuquerque, NM

Property Crime

4,766.6

2,657.6

+44% 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

51.5°F

+5.7°F in Albuquerque, NM

Annual Precipitation

9.4 in

43.8 in

+34.3 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$4.07/gal

+12% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Massachusetts.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

Free

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

29.6

+97% in Cambridge, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$9.31

$30.66

+229% in Cambridge, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Albuquerque, NM

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.92

+6% in Albuquerque, NM

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Albuquerque, NM

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Cambridge, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NM / MA)

4.875%

6.25%

+1.4 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

5.90%

9.00%

+3.1 pp in MA

Albuquerque vs Cambridge — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Cambridge?: Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 63% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Cambridge?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $100,000 in Cambridge.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Cambridge?: Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Cambridge under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% 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).