Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Naperville?

Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 44% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $64,000 in Naperville.

Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Naperville?

Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Albuquerque vs Naperville Cost of Living 2026

Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,030/mo est.

Naperville

Illinois

$1,830/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 $1,830 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Albuquerque, NM is roughly 44% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 57% higher in Naperville, IL. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM

Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio

$797

$1,713

+115% in Naperville, IL

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,594

+79% in Naperville, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,140

$1,889

+66% in Naperville, IL

3 Bedroom

$1,459

$2,446

+68% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$266,700

$509,900

+91% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$65,604

$150,937

+130% in Naperville, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,060

$54,720

+14% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.7 yr

40.1 yr

+1.4 yr in Naperville, IL

Homeownership

61.5%

74.3%

+12.8 pp in Naperville, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.7%

71.7%

+33.0 pp in Naperville, IL

Avg Commute

22.2 min

31.4 min

+9.2 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,194.3

85.7

+93% in Albuquerque, NM

Property Crime

4,766.6

892.2

+81% 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

49.9°F

+7.3°F in Albuquerque, NM

Annual Precipitation

9.4 in

36.9 in

+27.5 in in Naperville, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Naperville, IL

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

23.9

+69% in Naperville, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.90

$15.39

+29% in Naperville, IL

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 Naperville, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Albuquerque, NM

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Naperville, IL

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 / IL)

4.875%

6.25%

+1.4 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

5.90%

4.95%

+1.0 pp in NM

Albuquerque vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Naperville?: Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 44% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Naperville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Naperville?: Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).