Living Cost Compare
Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,040/mo est.

vs
Portland

Oregon

$1,600/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 $1,600 in Portland, OR. Overall, Albuquerque, NM is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 26% higher in Portland, OR. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM
Portland, OR

Rent

Studio
$797
$1,294
+62% in Portland, OR
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,440
+62% in Portland, OR
2 Bedroom
$1,140
$1,741
+53% in Portland, OR
3 Bedroom
$1,459
$2,053
+41% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,700
$557,600
+109% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income
$65,604
$88,792
+35% in Portland, OR
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,060
$60,690
+26% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.7 yr
38.6 yr
+0.1 yr in Albuquerque, NM
Homeownership
61.5%
52.8%
+8.7 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
53.5%
+14.8 pp in Portland, OR
Avg Commute
22.2 min
24.6 min
+2.4 min in Portland, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,193.2
731.7
+39% in Albuquerque, NM
Property Crime
4,766.2
5,605.5
+18% in Portland, OR

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
54.5°F
+2.7°F in Albuquerque, NM
Annual Precipitation
9.4 in
42.9 in
+33.4 in in Portland, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.99/gal
$5.57/gal
+40% in Portland, OR

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
Free
$2.80

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.8
14.9
+1% in Portland, OR
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.90
$17.98
+51% in Portland, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.37
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.25
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$7.23
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.14
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.74
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NM / OR)
4.875%
None
+4.9 pp in NM
Income Tax (top rate)
5.90%
9.90%
+4.0 pp in OR

Albuquerque vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Portland?
Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Portland, OR's $1,600, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Portland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $58,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Portland?
Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).