Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Green Bay?

Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Albuquerque, NM's $1,030, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $29,000 in Green Bay.

Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Green Bay?

Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Green Bay under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax).

Albuquerque vs Green Bay Cost of Living 2026

Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,030/mo est.

Green Bay

Wisconsin

$920/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 $920 in Green Bay, WI. Overall, Green Bay, WI is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Albuquerque, NM, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $62,546 in Green Bay, WI — about 5% higher in Albuquerque, NM. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM

Green Bay, WI

Rent

Studio

$797

$707

+11% in Albuquerque, NM

1 Bedroom

$889

$730

+18% in Albuquerque, NM

2 Bedroom

$1,140

$956

+16% in Albuquerque, NM

3 Bedroom

$1,459

$1,287

+12% in Albuquerque, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$266,700

$191,500

+28% in Albuquerque, NM

Income

Median Household Income

$65,604

$62,546

+5% in Albuquerque, NM

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,060

$49,940

+4% in Green Bay, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.7 yr

35.7 yr

+3.0 yr in Albuquerque, NM

Homeownership

61.5%

55.9%

+5.6 pp in Albuquerque, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.7%

25.5%

+13.2 pp in Albuquerque, NM

Avg Commute

22.2 min

18.9 min

+3.3 min in Albuquerque, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,194.3

501.7

+58% in Albuquerque, NM

Property Crime

4,766.6

1,331.2

+72% 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

44.3°F

+12.9°F in Albuquerque, NM

Annual Precipitation

9.4 in

29.5 in

+20.1 in in Green Bay, WI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Green Bay, WI

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

19.7

+40% in Green Bay, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.90

$11.79

+1% in Albuquerque, NM

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 Green Bay, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Albuquerque, NM

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Green Bay, WI

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 / WI)

4.875%

+0.1 pp in WI

Income Tax (top rate)

5.90%

7.65%

+1.8 pp in WI

Albuquerque vs Green Bay — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Green Bay?: Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Albuquerque, NM's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Green Bay?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $29,000 in Green Bay.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Green Bay?: Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Green Bay under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).