The 10 Cheapest Albuquerque, NM Neighborhoods To Live In For 2022


We used science and data to determine which neighborhoods in Albuquerque are the cheapest of the cheap.

Chris Kolmar, About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: April 6, 2022

Everything else equal, I think we can all agree that living in a cheaper place is better than living in a more expensive place.

I'd much rather pay $500/mo in rent than $1,000. And I'd rather pay $2 for coffee than $5.

And while every neighbhorhood in Albuquerque might be more expensive than living in rural New Mexico, there are certain neighborhoods that are definitely cheaper.

So what exactly are those Albuquerque neighborhoods where your dollar goes a little further -- you can get that one bedroom instead of the studio?

Instead of relying on public opinion and speculation, we wanted to get the facts straight and find out which neighborhoods in Albuquerque are the cheapest.

What's the cheapest neighborhood to live in Albuquerque for 2022? According to the most recent census data, Albuquerque Meadows looks to be the cheaptest Albuquerque neighborhood to live in.

At this point we should make it clear that you do get what you pay for -- some of these neighborhoods might not be the best places to live in Albuquerque. You could be sacrificing location or crime rates in return for more space and cheaper groceries.

Read on to see how we determined the places around Albuquerque that deserve a little bragging rights or maybe you're interested in the worst neighborhoods in Albuquerque.

Once you're done, you can look at the bottom of the story for a complete chart of every neighborhood we looked at from cheapest to most expensive.

For more New Mexico reading, check out:

The 10 Cheapest Neighborhoods To Live In Albuquerque For 2022

1. Albuquerque Meadows

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 199
Cost Of Living Index: 69 (cheapest)
Home Value To Income Ratio: 0.4 (2nd cheapest)
Rent To Income Ratio: 0.0 (7th cheapest)
More on Albuquerque Meadows: Homes For Sale | Data

2. Four Hills Mhp

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,574
Cost Of Living Index: 75 (3rd cheapest)
Home Value To Income Ratio: 0.8 (3rd cheapest)
Rent To Income Ratio: 0.008 (28th cheapest)
More on Four Hills Mhp: Homes For Sale | Data

3. Ladera West

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 3,875
Cost Of Living Index: 85 (12th cheapest)
Home Value To Income Ratio: 1.9 (5th cheapest)
Rent To Income Ratio: 0.012 (49th cheapest)
More on Ladera West: Homes For Sale | Data

4. Tijeras Arroyo

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 3,843
Cost Of Living Index: 88 (24th cheapest)
Home Value To Income Ratio: 2.1 (6th cheapest)
Rent To Income Ratio: 0.011 (38th cheapest)
More on Tijeras Arroyo: Homes For Sale | Data

5. Snow Heights

Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 2,086
Cost Of Living Index: 91 (48th cheapest)
Home Value To Income Ratio: 2.6 (23rd cheapest)
Rent To Income Ratio: 0.007 (25th cheapest)
More on Snow Heights: Homes For Sale | Data

6. Encanto Village

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 195
Cost Of Living Index: 89 (33rd cheapest)
Home Value To Income Ratio: 3.1 (66th cheapest)
Rent To Income Ratio: 0.0 (7th cheapest)
More on Encanto Village: Homes For Sale | Data

7. Stinson Tower

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 1,433
Cost Of Living Index: 89 (33rd cheapest)
Home Value To Income Ratio: 3.1 (66th cheapest)
Rent To Income Ratio: 0.0 (7th cheapest)
More on Stinson Tower: Homes For Sale | Data

8. Singing Arrow

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,324
Cost Of Living Index: 79 (6th cheapest)
Home Value To Income Ratio: 1.8 (4th cheapest)
Rent To Income Ratio: 0.016 (105th cheapest)
More on Singing Arrow: Homes For Sale | Data

9. Alban Hills

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 4,372
Cost Of Living Index: 89 (33rd cheapest)
Home Value To Income Ratio: 3.1 (72nd cheapest)
Rent To Income Ratio: 0.003 (16th cheapest)
More on Alban Hills: Homes For Sale | Data

10. Academy Ridge East

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 1,047
Cost Of Living Index: 94 (72nd cheapest)
Home Value To Income Ratio: 2.4 (16th cheapest)
Rent To Income Ratio: 0.012 (43rd cheapest)
More on Academy Ridge East: Homes For Sale | Data

Methodology: How We Determined The Cheapest Albuquerque Hoods In 2022

In order to rank the cheapest places to live in Albuquerque, we had to determine what criteria defines "cheap".

Using census and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:

  • Overall Cost Of Living
  • Rent To Income Ratio
  • Median Home Value To Income Ratio

We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 209 in each category, where 1 was the cheapest.

Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a cheap neighborhood index.

And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest cheapest neighborhood index the "Cheapest City Neighborhood In Albuquerque." We're lookin' at you, Albuquerque Meadows.

Read on below to learn more about what it's like to live in the cheapest places Albuquerque. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city from cheapest to most expensive.

Summary: Lowest Cost Places To Live In Albuquerque

If you're measuring the neighborhoods in Albuquerque where prices are low and it's cheap to live, this is an accurate list.

As we mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Albuquerque aren't all cheap. Skyview Acres takes the title of the most expensive neighborhood to live in Albuquerque.

We ranked the neighborhoods from cheapest to most expensive in the chart below.

For more New Mexico reading, check out:

Detailed List Of The Cheapest Neighborhoods To Live In Albuquerque For 2022

Rank Neighborhood Cost Of Living Index
1 Albuquerque Meadows 69
2 Four Hills Mhp 75
3 Ladera West 85
4 Tijeras Arroyo 88
5 Snow Heights 91
6 Encanto Village 89
7 Stinson Tower 89
8 Singing Arrow 79
9 Alban Hills 89
10 Academy Ridge East 94
11 South Los Altos 84
12 Las Terrazas 97
13 Inez 93
14 Elder Homestead 86
15 Heritage Hills 101
16 Mountain View 87
17 Sombra Del Monte 93
18 Matheson Park 90
19 Ventana Ranch 96
20 Rancho Sereno 105
21 Wildflower 79
22 Hodgin 90
23 Tuscany 95
24 John Robert 102
25 Campus 111
26 Alta Monte 72
27 Paloma Del Sol 96
28 Cielito Lindo 104
29 Valley Gardens 93
30 Westgate Hts 90
31 Cherry Hills 114
32 South Atrisco 87
33 Mossman 98
34 Jade Park 93
35 Jackson Area 95
36 Westgate Vecinos 90
37 Volcano Cliffs 97
38 Painted Sky 97
39 Eisenhower 95
40 Quigley Park 97
41 Route 66 West 89
42 Tierra Oeste 103
43 Monkbridge Gardens 85
44 Trumbull Village 78
45 Indian Moon 97
46 Vista Del Mundo 128
47 Parkway 101
48 Bel-Air 92
49 Uptown 89
50 Las Lomitas 104
51 Stardust Skies Park 102
52 South Broadway 85
53 North Domingo Baca 103
54 Embudo Canyon 110
55 Los Volcanes 83
56 Academy Acres North 96
57 Academy Hills Park 99
58 Paradise Hills 98
59 Summit Park 102
60 Taylor Ranch 97
61 Desert Spring Flower 91
62 Academy North 106
63 North Eastern 89
64 Bear Canyon 104
65 Alamosa 85
66 Academy Park 105
67 Siesta Hills 119
68 Osuna Park 100
69 Skyview West 90
70 Conchas Park 91
71 Vecinos Del Bosque 86
72 Seven Bar North 106
73 Mckinley 88
74 Paradise Heights 107
75 Skies West 93
76 Saragossa 108
77 Sr Marmon 98
78 Highlands North 96
79 Greater Gardner 88
80 Holiday Park 103
81 Glenwood Hills 113
82 Vista Sandia Hoa 93
83 Eagle Ranch 101
84 Clayton Heights-Lomas Del Cielo 90
85 Parkland Hills 96
86 Villa De Paza 90
87 Vineyard Estates 126
88 Crestview Heights 102
89 S Y Jackson 103
90 Kirtland Community 87
91 Heritage East 117
92 North Hills 89
93 Palomas Park 89
94 Quaker Heights 101
95 Vista Montecito 99
96 South Guadalupe Trail 99
97 Cottonwood Heights 94
98 Onate 103
99 Kachina Hills 113
100 Story Rock 101
101 Victory Hills 94
102 San Jose 85
103 Pat Hurley 92
104 Peppertree-Royal Oak 120
105 Mirabella 101
106 Piedras Marcadas 102
107 Stronghurst 93
108 Candelmen 93
109 Avalon 93
110 Glenwood Hills South Casa Grande 108
111 Fair West 90
112 Wells Park 96
113 Cibola Addition 108
114 San Antonio 93
115 Alvarado Park 94
116 San Gabriel 100
117 Eastrange-Piedra Vista 96
118 Four Hills Village 110
119 Classic Uptown 102
120 Zuni 99
121 Del Rey R 94
122 Princess Jeanne 93
123 Supper Rock 104
124 Richland Hills 108
125 Yale Village 87
126 Quail Ridge 88
127 Vista Del Norte 105
128 Near N Valley 93
129 Towne Park 96
130 West Mesa 92
131 Los Poblanos 106
132 Del Norte 94
133 Academy Estates East 104
134 Sandia 106
135 Gavilan 107
136 Lee Acres 107
137 N Campus 104
138 Keystone 104
139 La Luz De Sol 108
140 Loma Del Rey 101
141 Winrock South 93
142 Laurelwood 95
143 Tanoan 129
144 South San Pedro 84
145 Coors Trail 106
146 West Bluff 97
147 Chelwood Vista 91
148 Jerry Cline Park 96
149 Vista Grande 112
150 La Luz 112
151 Alvarado Grdns 118
152 Grande Hts 98
153 N Albuquerque Acres 128
154 Estates At Tanoan 158
155 Crestview Bluff 89
156 Thomas Village 120
157 Nor Este 123
158 Downtown 94
159 Santa Barbara 88
160 Tanoan East 124
161 Mark Twain 101
162 Sawmill 94
163 Matthew Meadows 121
164 Plaza Vieja 95
165 Barelas 89
166 Altura 109
167 Willow Wood 100
168 Rio Grande Blvd 106
169 Nob Hill 103
170 Fair Heights 97
171 Silver Hill 87
172 Northeast Valley 106
173 Huning Highland Historic District 94
174 Se Heights 105
175 Riverview Heights 93
176 Martineztown 88
177 North Wyoming 99
178 Los Jardines 99
179 West Park 107
180 Huning Castle 106
181 Jeanne Bellamah East 94
182 Sandia Ridge 108
183 Montgomery Heights 99
184 Montgomery Park 96
185 Stardust Skies North 105
186 Quintessance 121
187 Spruce Park 111
188 Vista Magnifica 95
189 Enchanted Park 100
190 La Mesa 89
191 Big Bend 104
192 Sycamore 101
193 Alameda N Valley 108
194 Antelope Run 119
195 Eldorado Heights 104
196 West Old Town 96
197 Netherwood Park 104
198 Boyds-Leslie Park 99
199 Prospectors Ridge 110
200 Los Alamos 95
201 Raynolds 98
202 La Sala Grande 102
203 Arroyo Del Oso North 117
204 University Hts 96
205 Highland 104
206 Broadway Central 101
207 Riverfronte 211
208 Bosque Dell Acres 102
209 Skyview Acres 105

Editor's Note: We updated this article for 2022. This is our third time ranking the cheapest neighborhoods to live in Albuquerque.
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

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