Living Cost Compare
Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,040/mo est.

vs
New York City

New York

$1,990/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 $1,990 in New York City, NY. Overall, Albuquerque, NM is roughly 48% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New York City, NY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $79,713 in New York City, NY — about 18% higher in New York City, NY. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM
New York City, NY

Rent

Studio
$797
$1,633
+105% in New York City, NY
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,705
+92% in New York City, NY
2 Bedroom
$1,140
$1,781
+56% in New York City, NY
3 Bedroom
$1,459
$2,065
+42% in New York City, NY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,700
$751,700
+182% in New York City, NY

Income

Median Household Income
$65,604
$79,713
+22% in New York City, NY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,060
$61,430
+28% in New York City, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.7 yr
38.0 yr
+0.7 yr in Albuquerque, NM
Homeownership
61.5%
32.8%
+28.7 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
41.0%
+2.3 pp in New York City, NY
Avg Commute
22.2 min
40.6 min
+18.4 min in New York City, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,193.2
690.9
+42% in Albuquerque, NM
Property Crime
4,766.2
2,413.5
+49% 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
55.0°F
+2.2°F in Albuquerque, NM
Annual Precipitation
9.4 in
49.9 in
+40.5 in in New York City, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.99/gal
$4.44/gal
+11% in New York City, NY

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs New York City.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
Free
$3.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.8
28.6
+93% in New York City, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.90
$18.90
+59% in New York City, NY

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
$1.92
+9% in Albuquerque, NM
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.25
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.90
+5% in Albuquerque, NM
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.02
+5% in Albuquerque, NM
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.68
+9% in Albuquerque, NM

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NM / NY)
4.875%
4%
+0.9 pp in NM
Income Tax (top rate)
5.90%
10.90%
+5.0 pp in NY

Albuquerque vs New York City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or New York City?
Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 48% below New York City, NY's $1,990, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in New York City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $68,000 in New York City.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or New York City?
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 York City under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).