Living Cost Compare
Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,040/mo est.

vs
Paterson

New Jersey

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Paterson, NJ. Overall, Albuquerque, NM is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Paterson, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $53,766 in Paterson, NJ — 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; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM
Paterson, NJ

Rent

Studio
$797
$786
+1% in Albuquerque, NM
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,183
+33% in Paterson, NJ
2 Bedroom
$1,140
$1,468
+29% in Paterson, NJ
3 Bedroom
$1,459
$1,729
+19% in Paterson, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,700
$335,400
+26% in Paterson, NJ

Income

Median Household Income
$65,604
$53,766
+18% in Albuquerque, NM
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,060
$61,430
+28% in Paterson, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.7 yr
33.3 yr
+5.4 yr in Albuquerque, NM
Homeownership
61.5%
26.2%
+35.3 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
12.5%
+26.2 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Avg Commute
22.2 min
23.1 min
+0.9 min in Paterson, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,194.3
1,010.1
+15% in Albuquerque, NM
Property Crime
4,766.6
2,391.4
+50% 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
49.0 in
+39.6 in in Paterson, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Paterson, NJ

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
24.9
+66% in Paterson, NJ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$9.31
$17.68
+90% in Paterson, NJ

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 Paterson, NJ
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 / NJ)
4.875%
6.625%
+1.8 pp in NJ
Income Tax (top rate)
5.90%
10.75%
+4.8 pp in NJ

Albuquerque vs Paterson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Paterson?
Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Paterson, NJ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Paterson?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $47,000 in Paterson.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Paterson?
Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Paterson under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).