Living Cost Compare
Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Pittsburgh, PA. Overall, Albuquerque, NM is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Pittsburgh, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA — about 2% higher in Albuquerque, NM. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM
Pittsburgh, PA

Rent

Studio
$797
$1,109
+39% in Pittsburgh, PA
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,079
+21% in Pittsburgh, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,140
$1,269
+11% in Pittsburgh, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,459
$1,450
+1% in Albuquerque, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,700
$193,200
+28% in Albuquerque, NM

Income

Median Household Income
$65,604
$64,137
+2% in Albuquerque, NM
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,060
$49,650
+3% in Pittsburgh, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.7 yr
33.5 yr
+5.2 yr in Albuquerque, NM
Homeownership
61.5%
47.2%
+14.3 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
47.8%
+9.1 pp in Pittsburgh, PA
Avg Commute
22.2 min
23.1 min
+0.9 min in Pittsburgh, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,194.3
436
+63% in Albuquerque, NM
Property Crime
4,766.6
2,315.7
+51% 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
51.8°F
+5.4°F in Albuquerque, NM
Annual Precipitation
9.4 in
39.3 in
+29.8 in in Pittsburgh, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Pittsburgh, PA

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)
14.1
21.6
+53% in Pittsburgh, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.90
$19.17
+61% in Pittsburgh, PA

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 Pittsburgh, PA
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 / PA)
4.875%
6%
+1.1 pp in PA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.90%
3.07%
+2.8 pp in NM

Albuquerque vs Pittsburgh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Pittsburgh?
Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Pittsburgh, PA's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Pittsburgh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Pittsburgh?
Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Pittsburgh under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).