Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Des Moines?

Des Moines, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Albuquerque, NM's $1,030, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $35,000 in Des Moines.

Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Des Moines?

Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Des Moines under Iowa's (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax).

Albuquerque vs Des Moines Cost of Living 2026

Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,030/mo est.

Des Moines

Iowa

$1,020/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 $1,020 in Des Moines, IA. Overall, Des Moines, IA is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Albuquerque, NM, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $63,966 in Des Moines, IA — about 2% higher in Albuquerque, NM. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM

Des Moines, IA

Rent

Studio

$797

$870

+9% in Des Moines, IA

1 Bedroom

$889

$870

+2% in Albuquerque, NM

2 Bedroom

$1,140

$1,099

+4% in Albuquerque, NM

3 Bedroom

$1,459

$1,334

+9% in Albuquerque, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$266,700

$183,700

+31% in Albuquerque, NM

Income

Median Household Income

$65,604

$63,966

+2% in Albuquerque, NM

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,060

$51,820

+8% in Des Moines, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.7 yr

34.6 yr

+4.1 yr in Albuquerque, NM

Homeownership

61.5%

60.4%

+1.1 pp in Albuquerque, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.7%

29.0%

+9.7 pp in Albuquerque, NM

Avg Commute

22.2 min

19.6 min

+2.6 min in Albuquerque, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,194.3

707.3

+41% in Albuquerque, NM

Property Crime

4,766.6

3,156.6

+34% 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

50.9°F

+6.3°F in Albuquerque, NM

Annual Precipitation

9.4 in

36.0 in

+26.6 in in Des Moines, IA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Des Moines, IA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

Free

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

+0% in Des Moines, IA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.90

$15.72

+32% in Des Moines, IA

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

$1.66

+19% in Albuquerque, NM

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Des Moines, IA

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Albuquerque, NM

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Des Moines, IA

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Albuquerque, NM

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NM / IA)

4.875%

+1.1 pp in IA

Income Tax (top rate)

5.90%

3.80%

+2.1 pp in NM

Albuquerque vs Des Moines — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Des Moines?: Des Moines, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Albuquerque, NM's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Des Moines?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $35,000 in Des Moines.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Des Moines?: Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Des Moines under Iowa's (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% 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).