Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Dover?

Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Dover, DE's $1,270, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Dover.

Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Dover?

Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Dover under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax).

Albuquerque vs Dover Cost of Living 2026

Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,040/mo est.

Dover

Delaware

$1,270/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 $1,270 in Dover, DE. Overall, Albuquerque, NM is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dover, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $58,336 in Dover, DE — about 11% higher in Albuquerque, NM. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM

Dover, DE

Rent

Studio

$797

$993

+25% in Dover, DE

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,047

+18% in Dover, DE

2 Bedroom

$1,140

$1,185

+4% in Dover, DE

3 Bedroom

$1,459

$1,634

+12% in Dover, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$266,700

$248,500

+7% in Albuquerque, NM

Income

Median Household Income

$65,604

$58,336

+11% in Albuquerque, NM

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,060

$46,690

+3% in Albuquerque, NM

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.7 yr

35.1 yr

+3.6 yr in Albuquerque, NM

Homeownership

61.5%

47.0%

+14.5 pp in Albuquerque, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.7%

27.1%

+11.6 pp in Albuquerque, NM

Avg Commute

22.2 min

24.0 min

+1.8 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,194.3

1,025.3

+14% in Albuquerque, NM

Property Crime

4,766.6

6,159.1

+29% in Dover, DE

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

56.9°F

+0.3°F in Albuquerque, NM

Annual Precipitation

9.4 in

46.0 in

+36.6 in in Dover, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Dover, DE

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

19.3

+28% in Dover, DE

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$9.31

$29.73

+219% in Dover, DE

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 Dover, DE

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 / DE)

4.875%

None

+4.9 pp in NM

Income Tax (top rate)

5.90%

6.60%

+0.7 pp in DE

Albuquerque vs Dover — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Dover?: Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Dover, DE's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Dover?: 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 Dover.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Dover?: Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Dover under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).