Living Cost Compare
Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,040/mo est.

vs
El Paso

Texas

$1,010/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 $1,010 in El Paso, TX. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Albuquerque, NM, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $58,734 in El Paso, TX — about 10% higher in Albuquerque, NM. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM
El Paso, TX

Rent

Studio
$797
$707
+11% in Albuquerque, NM
1 Bedroom
$889
$816
+8% in Albuquerque, NM
2 Bedroom
$1,140
$993
+13% in Albuquerque, NM
3 Bedroom
$1,459
$1,252
+14% in Albuquerque, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,700
$171,700
+36% in Albuquerque, NM

Income

Median Household Income
$65,604
$58,734
+10% in Albuquerque, NM
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,060
$39,510
+18% in Albuquerque, NM

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.7 yr
34.1 yr
+4.6 yr in Albuquerque, NM
Homeownership
61.5%
60.2%
+1.3 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
27.5%
+11.2 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Avg Commute
22.2 min
23.7 min
+1.5 min in El Paso, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,193.2
319.7
+73% in Albuquerque, NM
Property Crime
4,766.2
1,509.3
+68% 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
64.6°F
+7.4°F in El Paso, TX
Annual Precipitation
9.4 in
9.7 in
+0.3 in in El Paso, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.99/gal
$3.96/gal
+1% in Albuquerque, NM

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
Free
$1.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.8
16.4
+11% in El Paso, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.90
$24.61
+107% in El Paso, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.16
+5% in Albuquerque, NM
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.73
+18% in Albuquerque, NM
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.19
+3% in Albuquerque, NM
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.56
+9% in Albuquerque, NM
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$1.90
+11% in Albuquerque, NM
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.61
+17% in Albuquerque, NM

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NM / TX)
4.875%
6.25%
+1.4 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
5.90%
None
+5.9 pp in NM

Albuquerque vs El Paso — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or El Paso?
El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Albuquerque, NM's $1,040, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in El Paso?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $33,000 in El Paso.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or El Paso?
Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); El Paso under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).