Living Cost Compare
Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,040/mo est.

vs
Tucson

Arizona

$1,060/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 $1,060 in Tucson, AZ. Overall, Albuquerque, NM is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tucson, AZ, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $54,546 in Tucson, AZ — about 17% higher in Albuquerque, NM. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM
Tucson, AZ

Rent

Studio
$797
$795
+0% in Albuquerque, NM
1 Bedroom
$889
$891
+0% in Tucson, AZ
2 Bedroom
$1,140
$1,146
+1% in Tucson, AZ
3 Bedroom
$1,459
$1,520
+4% in Tucson, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,700
$242,200
+9% in Albuquerque, NM

Income

Median Household Income
$65,604
$54,546
+17% in Albuquerque, NM
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,060
$47,760
+1% in Albuquerque, NM

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.7 yr
34.6 yr
+4.1 yr in Albuquerque, NM
Homeownership
61.5%
51.7%
+9.8 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
30.2%
+8.5 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Avg Commute
22.2 min
22.2 min
about equal

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,193.2
645.8
+46% in Albuquerque, NM
Property Crime
4,766.2
3,460
+27% 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
70.2°F
+13.0°F in Tucson, AZ
Annual Precipitation
9.4 in
11.6 in
+2.2 in in Tucson, AZ

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.99/gal
$5.57/gal
+40% in Tucson, AZ

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
Free
Free

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.8
15.6
+5% in Tucson, AZ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.90
$19.69
+65% in Tucson, AZ

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 / AZ)
4.875%
5.6%
+0.7 pp in AZ
Income Tax (top rate)
5.90%
2.50%
+3.4 pp in NM

Albuquerque vs Tucson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Tucson?
Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Tucson, AZ's $1,060, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Tucson?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $36,000 in Tucson.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Tucson?
Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Tucson under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).