Living Cost Compare
Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,030/mo est.

vs
St. Louis

Missouri

$1,030/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 $1,030 in St. Louis, MO. The two are close overall, within a few percent of each other.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — 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; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM
St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio
$797
$864
+8% in St. Louis, MO
1 Bedroom
$889
$866
+3% in Albuquerque, NM
2 Bedroom
$1,140
$1,109
+3% in Albuquerque, NM
3 Bedroom
$1,459
$1,135
+22% in Albuquerque, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,700
$185,100
+31% in Albuquerque, NM

Income

Median Household Income
$65,604
$55,279
+16% in Albuquerque, NM
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,060
$49,990
+4% in St. Louis, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.7 yr
36.6 yr
+2.1 yr in Albuquerque, NM
Homeownership
61.5%
45.4%
+16.1 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
40.2%
+1.5 pp in St. Louis, MO
Avg Commute
22.2 min
22.2 min
about equal

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,194.3
1,372.9
+15% in St. Louis, MO
Property Crime
4,766.6
5,794.9
+22% in St. Louis, MO

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
55.7°F
+1.5°F in Albuquerque, NM
Annual Precipitation
9.4 in
40.9 in
+31.5 in in St. Louis, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in St. Louis, MO

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
Free
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
13.7
+3% in Albuquerque, NM
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.90
$24.13
+103% in St. Louis, MO

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
$1.66
+19% in Albuquerque, NM
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in St. Louis, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Albuquerque, NM
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in St. Louis, MO
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Albuquerque, NM

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NM / MO)
4.875%
4.225%
+0.7 pp in NM
Income Tax (top rate)
5.90%
4.70%
+1.2 pp in NM

Albuquerque vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or St. Louis?
They're close. Albuquerque, NM runs about $1,030 a month and St. Louis, MO about $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) — within a few percent of each other.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in St. Louis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or St. Louis?
Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).