Living Cost Compare
Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Lexington

Kentucky

$1,070/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 $1,070 in Lexington, KY. Overall, Albuquerque, NM is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lexington, KY, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $67,631 in Lexington, KY — about 3% higher in Lexington, KY. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM
Lexington, KY

Rent

Studio
$797
$769
+4% in Albuquerque, NM
1 Bedroom
$889
$887
+0% in Albuquerque, NM
2 Bedroom
$1,140
$1,119
+2% in Albuquerque, NM
3 Bedroom
$1,459
$1,408
+3% in Albuquerque, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,700
$272,100
+2% in Lexington, KY

Income

Median Household Income
$65,604
$67,631
+3% in Lexington, KY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,060
$48,620
+1% in Lexington, KY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.7 yr
35.2 yr
+3.5 yr in Albuquerque, NM
Homeownership
61.5%
53.6%
+7.9 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
47.3%
+8.6 pp in Lexington, KY
Avg Commute
22.2 min
20.8 min
+1.4 min in Albuquerque, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,194.3
269.1
+77% in Albuquerque, NM
Property Crime
4,766.6
2,304.4
+52% 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
55.6°F
+1.6°F in Albuquerque, NM
Annual Precipitation
9.4 in
45.2 in
+35.7 in in Lexington, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Lexington, KY

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
15.0
+6% in Lexington, KY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.90
$29.48
+148% in Lexington, KY

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 Lexington, KY
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 / KY)
4.875%
6%
+1.1 pp in KY
Income Tax (top rate)
5.90%
3.50%
+2.4 pp in NM

Albuquerque vs Lexington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Lexington?
Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Lexington, KY's $1,070, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Lexington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $35,000 in Lexington.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Lexington?
Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Lexington under Kentucky's (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% 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).