Living Cost Compare
Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,040/mo est.

vs
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/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 $1,470 in Colorado Springs, CO. Overall, Albuquerque, NM is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO — about 21% higher in Colorado Springs, 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
Colorado Springs, CO

Rent

Studio
$797
$998
+25% in Colorado Springs, CO
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,305
+47% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,140
$1,504
+32% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,459
$1,881
+29% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,700
$420,700
+58% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$65,604
$83,198
+27% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,060
$52,710
+10% in Colorado Springs, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.7 yr
35.6 yr
+3.1 yr in Albuquerque, NM
Homeownership
61.5%
61.3%
+0.2 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
41.9%
+3.2 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Avg Commute
22.2 min
22.8 min
+0.6 min in Colorado Springs, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,193.2
721.1
+40% in Albuquerque, NM
Property Crime
4,766.2
3,487.9
+27% 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
49.0°F
+8.2°F in Albuquerque, NM
Annual Precipitation
9.4 in
16.5 in
+7.1 in in Colorado Springs, CO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.99/gal
$4.54/gal
+14% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Colorado.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
Free
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.8
16.7
+13% in Colorado Springs, 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
$4.37
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.25
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$7.23
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.14
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$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 Colorado Springs — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Colorado Springs?
Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Colorado Springs, CO's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Colorado Springs?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $52,000 in Colorado Springs.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Colorado Springs?
Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Colorado Springs 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).