Living Cost Compare
Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Albuquerque, NM is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — 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; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$797
$1,103
+38% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,024
+15% in Wilmington, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,140
$1,213
+6% in Wilmington, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,459
$1,394
+4% in Albuquerque, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,700
$224,500
+16% in Albuquerque, NM

Income

Median Household Income
$65,604
$55,269
+16% in Albuquerque, NM
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,060
$54,310
+13% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.7 yr
37.0 yr
+1.7 yr in Albuquerque, NM
Homeownership
61.5%
46.0%
+15.5 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
33.1%
+5.6 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Avg Commute
22.2 min
23.0 min
+0.8 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,194.3
1,138.2
+5% in Albuquerque, NM
Property Crime
4,766.6
3,182.4
+33% 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
54.9°F
+2.3°F in Albuquerque, NM
Annual Precipitation
9.4 in
43.1 in
+33.6 in in Wilmington, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Wilmington, DE

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
19.4
+37% in Wilmington, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.90
$22.51
+89% in Wilmington, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Albuquerque, NM
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Albuquerque, NM
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Wilmington, DE
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Albuquerque, NM
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Albuquerque, NM
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Albuquerque, NM

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NM / DE)
4.875%
None
+4.9 pp in NM
Income Tax (top rate)
5.90%
6.60%
+0.7 pp in DE

Albuquerque vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Wilmington?
Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Wilmington, DE's $1,230, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Wilmington?
Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% 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).