Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Evansville?

Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Albuquerque, NM's $1,030, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $31,000 in Evansville.

Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Evansville?

Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Evansville under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax).

Albuquerque vs Evansville Cost of Living 2026

Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,030/mo est.

Evansville

Indiana

$950/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 $950 in Evansville, IN. Overall, Evansville, IN is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Albuquerque, NM, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $52,251 in Evansville, IN — about 20% higher in Albuquerque, NM. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM

Evansville, IN

Rent

Studio

$797

$741

+7% in Albuquerque, NM

1 Bedroom

$889

$768

+14% in Albuquerque, NM

2 Bedroom

$1,140

$1,022

+10% in Albuquerque, NM

3 Bedroom

$1,459

$1,167

+20% in Albuquerque, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$266,700

$129,100

+52% in Albuquerque, NM

Income

Median Household Income

$65,604

$52,251

+20% in Albuquerque, NM

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,060

$46,540

+3% in Albuquerque, NM

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.7 yr

38.1 yr

+0.6 yr in Albuquerque, NM

Homeownership

61.5%

53.9%

+7.6 pp in Albuquerque, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.7%

22.3%

+16.4 pp in Albuquerque, NM

Avg Commute

22.2 min

18.7 min

+3.5 min in Albuquerque, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,194.3

1,210.5

+1% in Evansville, IN

Property Crime

4,766.6

3,716.2

+22% 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

56.4°F

+0.8°F in Albuquerque, NM

Annual Precipitation

9.4 in

45.3 in

+35.9 in in Evansville, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Evansville, IN

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

18.1

+29% in Evansville, IN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.90

$13.70

+15% in Evansville, IN

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 Evansville, IN

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Albuquerque, NM

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Evansville, IN

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 / IN)

4.875%

+2.1 pp in IN

Income Tax (top rate)

5.90%

2.95%

+3.0 pp in NM

Albuquerque vs Evansville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Evansville?: Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Albuquerque, NM's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Evansville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $31,000 in Evansville.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Evansville?: Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Evansville under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).