Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Columbus?

Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Columbus, OH's $1,250, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $42,000 in Columbus.

Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Columbus?

Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Columbus under Ohio's (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax).

Albuquerque vs Columbus Cost of Living 2026

Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,040/mo est.

Columbus

Ohio

$1,250/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 $1,250 in Columbus, OH. Overall, Albuquerque, NM is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbus, OH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $65,327 in Columbus, OH. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM

Columbus, OH

Rent

Studio

$797

$1,014

+27% in Columbus, OH

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,059

+19% in Columbus, OH

2 Bedroom

$1,140

$1,276

+12% in Columbus, OH

3 Bedroom

$1,459

$1,369

+6% in Albuquerque, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$266,700

$234,500

+12% in Albuquerque, NM

Income

Median Household Income

$65,604

$65,327

+0% in Albuquerque, NM

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,060

$51,340

+7% in Columbus, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.7 yr

33.0 yr

+5.7 yr in Albuquerque, NM

Homeownership

61.5%

44.3%

+17.2 pp in Albuquerque, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.7%

38.2%

+0.5 pp in Albuquerque, NM

Avg Commute

22.2 min

21.8 min

+0.4 min in Albuquerque, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,193.2

484.8

+59% in Albuquerque, NM

Property Crime

4,766.2

3,092.7

+35% 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

52.7°F

+4.5°F in Albuquerque, NM

Annual Precipitation

9.4 in

40.1 in

+30.7 in in Columbus, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.99/gal

$4.56/gal

+14% in Columbus, OH

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Ohio.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

Free

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.8

18.8

+27% in Columbus, OH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.90

$13.75

+16% in Columbus, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

$4.14

+5% in Albuquerque, NM

Bread (lb)

$2.10

$1.79

+15% in Albuquerque, NM

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

$3.63

+61% in Columbus, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

$6.97

+4% in Albuquerque, NM

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

$2.15

+1% in Columbus, OH

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

$0.63

+15% in Albuquerque, NM

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NM / OH)

4.875%

5.75%

+0.9 pp in OH

Income Tax (top rate)

5.90%

2.75%

+3.2 pp in NM

Albuquerque vs Columbus — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Columbus?: Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Columbus, OH's $1,250, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Columbus?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $42,000 in Columbus.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Columbus?: Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Columbus under Ohio's (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).