Living Cost Compare
Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,040/mo est.

vs
Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/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 $1,320 in Las Vegas, NV. Overall, Albuquerque, NM is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Las Vegas, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $70,723 in Las Vegas, NV — about 7% higher in Las Vegas, NV. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM
Las Vegas, NV

Rent

Studio
$797
$992
+24% in Las Vegas, NV
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,181
+33% in Las Vegas, NV
2 Bedroom
$1,140
$1,401
+23% in Las Vegas, NV
3 Bedroom
$1,459
$1,740
+19% in Las Vegas, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,700
$395,300
+48% in Las Vegas, NV

Income

Median Household Income
$65,604
$70,723
+8% in Las Vegas, NV
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,060
$46,670
+3% in Albuquerque, NM

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.7 yr
38.5 yr
+0.2 yr in Albuquerque, NM
Homeownership
61.5%
55.7%
+5.8 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
27.3%
+11.4 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Avg Commute
22.2 min
25.8 min
+3.6 min in Las Vegas, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,193.2
433.1
+64% in Albuquerque, NM
Property Crime
4,766.2
2,641.7
+45% 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
68.4°F
+11.2°F in Las Vegas, NV
Annual Precipitation
9.4 in
5.4 in
+4.1 in in Albuquerque, NM

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.99/gal
$5.57/gal
+40% in Las Vegas, NV

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
Free
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.8
14.2
+4% in Albuquerque, NM
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.90
$10.04
+16% in Albuquerque, NM

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.37
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.25
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$7.23
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.14
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.74
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NM / NV)
4.875%
6.85%
+2.0 pp in NV
Income Tax (top rate)
5.90%
None
+5.9 pp in NM

Albuquerque vs Las Vegas — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Las Vegas?
Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Las Vegas, NV's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Las Vegas?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $47,000 in Las Vegas.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Las Vegas?
Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Las Vegas under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).