Cost of living in Albuquerque, NM Livability score 60 · cost-of-living index 93.6 (US = 100)
How Albuquerque compares Where Albuquerque falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 94 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 94 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $353k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $353k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $191 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $191 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 7.8% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 7.8% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.93% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.93% Violent crime (per 100k) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k): 780 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 780 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 15.2 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 15.2 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 92° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 92° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 25° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 25° Map of Albuquerque Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps
Cost of living Metric Value US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 93.6 #79 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 97.4 #132 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.33 #79 of 200 Median household income $63,971 #148 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $37,907 #128 of 200
Economy Metric Value US rank Unemployment rate 5.69% #137 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +1.2% #145 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value US rank Median home price $352,894 #109 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 5.5× #139 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +1.0% #109 of 200 Price per square foot $191 #104 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,850 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,502 #81 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 2,589 Median days on market 11 #57 of 200
Taxes Metric Value US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 10.2% #111 of 200 Combined sales tax 7.78% #113 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 5.90% Capital gains tax 5.90% #138 of 200 High earners No special surtax Effective property tax rate 0.93% #112 of 200 Median property tax paid $2,258 #80 of 200
Healthcare & childcare Metric Value US rank Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,400 #32 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $10,000 #58 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value US rank Annual registration $60 #19 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) None #1 of 200 Emissions testing Required Emissions detail Required in major metro counties DMV & license offices 23 Avg commute to work 24 min #104 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value US rank Electricity 15.2¢/kWh #40 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $136 #40 of 200 Gasoline $3.20/gal #63 of 200
Insurance Metric Value US rank Home insurance (annual) $1,900 #106 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,600 #51 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: wildfire — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $550 #7 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 61 #188 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 1,500 #110 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 4,200 #107 of 200 Avg summer high 92°F #163 of 200 Avg winter low 25°F #123 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 7a Frost window 04-10 → 11-01
Safety Metric Value US rank Violent crime (per 100k) 780 #199 of 200 Property crime (per 100k) 3,400 #199 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value US rank Grocery stores 30 #140 of 200 Parks 43 Hiking areas 24 Golf courses 21 Shooting ranges 14 Lakes 18
Permits Metric Value US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 3 #87 of 200 Permit detail Moderate
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts (Google Maps listings) via our own scraper.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.