Living Cost Compare
Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,040/mo est.

vs
Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/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 $1,220 in Columbia, SC. Overall, Albuquerque, NM is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbia, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $55,653 in Columbia, SC — about 15% higher in Albuquerque, NM. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM
Columbia, SC

Rent

Studio
$797
$802
+1% in Columbia, SC
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,026
+15% in Columbia, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,140
$1,164
+2% in Columbia, SC
3 Bedroom
$1,459
$1,338
+8% in Albuquerque, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,700
$243,500
+9% in Albuquerque, NM

Income

Median Household Income
$65,604
$55,653
+15% in Albuquerque, NM
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,060
$46,430
+3% in Albuquerque, NM

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.7 yr
28.7 yr
+10.0 yr in Albuquerque, NM
Homeownership
61.5%
47.3%
+14.2 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
46.1%
+7.4 pp in Columbia, SC
Avg Commute
22.2 min
17.4 min
+4.8 min in Albuquerque, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,194.3
769.9
+36% in Albuquerque, NM
Property Crime
4,766.6
3,265.1
+32% 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
64.9°F
+7.7°F in Columbia, SC
Annual Precipitation
9.4 in
45.4 in
+36.0 in in Columbia, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Columbia, SC

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
Free
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
15.6
+3% in Columbia, SC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$9.31
$29.07
+212% in Columbia, SC

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 Columbia, SC
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 / SC)
4.875%
6%
+1.1 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
5.90%
6.00%
+0.1 pp in SC

Albuquerque vs Columbia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Columbia?
Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Columbia, SC's $1,220, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Columbia?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $41,000 in Columbia.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Columbia?
Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Columbia under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% 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).