What is the cost of living in Albuquerque, NM?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Albuquerque has an overall cost of living index of 102, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Mexico, Albuquerque has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than New Mexico's index of 93.
The standard of living in Albuquerque ranks as #37 most affordable out of the 45 places we measured in New Mexico. By definition, that implies Albuquerque ranks as the #8 most expensive place in the Land of Enchantment.
For more reading on life in Albuquerque, check out:
Albuquerque Cost Of Living Vs. New Mexico
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Albuquerque. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Albuquerque is 97.
The Groceries index in Albuquerque is 97.
The Health index in Albuquerque is 110.
The Housing index in Albuquerque is 97.
The Transportation index in Albuquerque is 94.
The Utilities index in Albuquerque is 97.
| Living Expense | Albuquerque | New Mexico | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 102 | 93 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 110 | 86 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 94 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 94 | 100 |
Albuquerque Cost Of Living Compared To New Mexico Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around New Mexico, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Albuquerque Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Albuquerque, NM Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in New Mexico, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Albuquerque is $344,457.
The Median Rent in Albuquerque is $1,145.
The Median Income in Albuquerque is $68,317.
The Home Value To Income in Albuquerque is 5.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Albuquerque is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Albuquerque | New Mexico | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $344,457 | $316,750 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,145 | $1,067 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $68,317 | $64,059 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.0x | 4.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Albuquerque, NM Costs By Category
Detailed Albuquerque Services costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Albuquerque | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.15 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.54 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $20.89 | $18 |
| Haircut | $31.9 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $50.83 | $45.56 |
Detailed Albuquerque Groceries costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Albuquerque | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.11 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.32 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.63 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.18 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.42 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.07 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.62 | $3.7 |
Detailed Albuquerque Health costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Albuquerque | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $136.89 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $134.17 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $111.42 | $113.29 |
Detailed Albuquerque Transportation costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Albuquerque | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.5 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $43.87 | $59.92 |
Detailed Albuquerque Utilities costs vs. New Mexico
| Item | Albuquerque | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $191.24 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.51 | $192.25 |
Albuquerque SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Albuquerque
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Albuquerque. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Rio Rancho, NM has a cost of living index of 100, 1.0x Albuquerque.
South Valley, NM has a cost of living index of 92, 0.9x Albuquerque.
North Valley, NM has a cost of living index of 99, 1.0x Albuquerque.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Albuquerque |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Rancho, NM | 108,515 | 100 | 1.0x |
| South Valley, NM | 37,120 | 92 | 0.9x |
| North Valley, NM | 10,455 | 99 | 1.0x |
| Bernalillo, NM | 9,086 | 96 | 0.9x |
| Corrales, NM | 8,555 | 131 | 1.3x |
| Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM | 5,857 | 127 | 1.2x |
