Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Milwaukee?

Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Albuquerque, NM's $1,040, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.

Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Milwaukee?

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

Albuquerque vs Milwaukee Cost of Living 2026

Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,040/mo est.

Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Milwaukee, WI. Overall, Milwaukee, WI is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Albuquerque, NM, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI — about 21% 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

Milwaukee, WI

Rent

Studio

$797

$841

+6% in Milwaukee, WI

1 Bedroom

$889

$849

+4% in Albuquerque, NM

2 Bedroom

$1,140

$1,031

+10% in Albuquerque, NM

3 Bedroom

$1,459

$1,193

+18% in Albuquerque, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$266,700

$172,000

+36% in Albuquerque, NM

Income

Median Household Income

$65,604

$51,888

+21% in Albuquerque, NM

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,060

$51,160

+6% in Milwaukee, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.7 yr

32.2 yr

+6.5 yr in Albuquerque, NM

Homeownership

61.5%

41.5%

+20.0 pp in Albuquerque, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.7%

26.6%

+12.1 pp in Albuquerque, NM

Avg Commute

22.2 min

22.4 min

+0.2 min in Milwaukee, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,193.2

1,452.3

+22% in Milwaukee, WI

Property Crime

4,766.2

2,772.2

+42% 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

47.9°F

+9.3°F in Albuquerque, NM

Annual Precipitation

9.4 in

34.8 in

+25.3 in in Milwaukee, WI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.99/gal

$4.35/gal

+9% in Milwaukee, WI

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

Free

$2.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.8

18.8

+27% in Milwaukee, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.90

$9.48

+20% in Albuquerque, NM

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

$4.14

+5% in Albuquerque, NM

Bread (lb)

$2.10

$1.79

+15% in Albuquerque, NM

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

$3.63

+61% in Milwaukee, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

$6.97

+4% in Albuquerque, NM

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

$2.15

+1% in Milwaukee, WI

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

$0.63

+15% 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 Milwaukee — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Milwaukee?: Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Albuquerque, NM's $1,040, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Milwaukee?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Milwaukee?: Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Milwaukee 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).