Living Cost Compare
Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,040/mo est.

vs
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/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 $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, Albuquerque, NM is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Orleans, LA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 16% higher in Albuquerque, NM. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$797
$953
+20% in New Orleans, LA
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,019
+15% in New Orleans, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,140
$1,287
+13% in New Orleans, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,459
$1,392
+5% in Albuquerque, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,700
$296,400
+11% in New Orleans, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$65,604
$55,339
+16% in Albuquerque, NM
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,060
$47,290
+2% in Albuquerque, NM

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.7 yr
38.4 yr
+0.3 yr in Albuquerque, NM
Homeownership
61.5%
50.5%
+11.0 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
42.0%
+3.3 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
22.2 min
22.7 min
+0.5 min in New Orleans, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,193.2
1,361.1
+14% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
4,766.2
5,089.6
+7% in New Orleans, LA

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
70.6°F
+13.4°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
9.4 in
62.3 in
+52.8 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.99/gal
$3.99/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
Free
$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.8
14.2
+4% in Albuquerque, NM
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.90
$16.62
+40% in New Orleans, LA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.16
+5% in Albuquerque, NM
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.73
+18% in Albuquerque, NM
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.19
+3% in Albuquerque, NM
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.56
+9% in Albuquerque, NM
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$1.90
+11% in Albuquerque, NM
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.61
+17% in Albuquerque, NM

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NM / LA)
4.875%
5%
+0.1 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.90%
3.00%
+2.9 pp in NM

Albuquerque vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or New Orleans?
Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below New Orleans, LA's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in New Orleans?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or New Orleans?
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 Orleans under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% 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).