Living Cost Compare
Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Little Rock

Arkansas

$1,080/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 $1,080 in Little Rock, AR. Overall, Albuquerque, NM is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Little Rock, AR, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $60,583 in Little Rock, AR — about 8% higher in Albuquerque, NM. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM
Little Rock, AR

Rent

Studio
$797
$981
+23% in Little Rock, AR
1 Bedroom
$889
$904
+2% in Little Rock, AR
2 Bedroom
$1,140
$1,064
+7% in Albuquerque, NM
3 Bedroom
$1,459
$1,292
+11% in Albuquerque, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,700
$221,200
+17% in Albuquerque, NM

Income

Median Household Income
$65,604
$60,583
+8% in Albuquerque, NM
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,060
$45,790
+5% in Albuquerque, NM

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.7 yr
36.4 yr
+2.3 yr in Albuquerque, NM
Homeownership
61.5%
54.2%
+7.3 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
44.0%
+5.3 pp in Little Rock, AR
Avg Commute
22.2 min
18.3 min
+3.9 min in Albuquerque, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,194.3
1,673
+40% in Little Rock, AR
Property Crime
4,766.6
5,251.5
+10% in Little Rock, AR

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
62.7°F
+5.5°F in Little Rock, AR
Annual Precipitation
9.4 in
49.8 in
+40.3 in in Little Rock, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.62/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
Free
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
14.4
+2% in Little Rock, AR
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.90
$25.93
+118% in Little Rock, AR

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 Little Rock, AR
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 / AR)
4.875%
6.5%
+1.6 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
5.90%
3.90%
+2.0 pp in NM

Albuquerque vs Little Rock — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Little Rock?
Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Little Rock, AR's $1,080, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Little Rock?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $36,000 in Little Rock.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Little Rock?
Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Little Rock under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% 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).