Living Cost Compare
Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,040/mo est.

vs
New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/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 $1,530 in New Haven, CT. Overall, Albuquerque, NM is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $53,771 in New Haven, CT — about 18% higher in Albuquerque, NM. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM
New Haven, CT

Rent

Studio
$797
$1,159
+45% in New Haven, CT
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,275
+43% in New Haven, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,140
$1,473
+29% in New Haven, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,459
$1,636
+12% in New Haven, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,700
$249,000
+7% in Albuquerque, NM

Income

Median Household Income
$65,604
$53,771
+18% in Albuquerque, NM
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,060
$60,060
+25% in New Haven, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.7 yr
31.9 yr
+6.8 yr in Albuquerque, NM
Homeownership
61.5%
28.4%
+33.1 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
37.7%
+1.0 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Avg Commute
22.2 min
21.0 min
+1.2 min in Albuquerque, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,194.3
536.3
+55% in Albuquerque, NM
Property Crime
4,766.6
3,601.6
+24% 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
52.2°F
+5.0°F in Albuquerque, NM
Annual Precipitation
9.4 in
47.1 in
+37.7 in in New Haven, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in New Haven, CT

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
Free
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
24.3
+61% in New Haven, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$9.31
$23.33
+151% in New Haven, CT

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
$1.92
+6% in Albuquerque, NM
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Albuquerque, NM
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.19
+9% in New Haven, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NM / CT)
4.875%
6.35%
+1.5 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
5.90%
6.99%
+1.1 pp in CT

Albuquerque vs New Haven — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or New Haven?
Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in New Haven?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $51,000 in New Haven.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or New Haven?
Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).