Phoenix vs Albuquerque
Phoenix, AZ · Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque is 12% cheaper than Phoenix overall.
Home Price
Phoenix: $420,000
Albuquerque: $285,000
Monthly Rent
Phoenix: $1,150/mo
Albuquerque: $900/mo
COL Index
Phoenix: 106
Albuquerque: 93
Median Income
Phoenix: $67,600
Albuquerque: $57,800
Side-by-Side Comparison
Median Home Price
Monthly Rent (Median)
Median Household Income
Property Tax Rate
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Avg. Commute
Unemployment Rate
Median Age
What This Means For You
Buying Power
A $100,000 salary in Phoenix has the same purchasing power as $87,736 in Albuquerque — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Albuquerque cost 32% more (-$135,000 extra). Expect a larger mortgage and down payment.
Renting
Renting in Albuquerque saves you $250/month — $3,000 per year. Median rent: $1,150/mo in Phoenix vs $900/mo in Albuquerque.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Phoenix owners pay roughly $2,604/year in property taxes vs $2,223/year in Albuquerque. That's a $381 annual difference.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $67,600 in Phoenix and $57,800 in Albuquerque. Albuquerque residents earn 14% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 26 minutes in Phoenix vs 22 minutes in Albuquerque. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Phoenix to Albuquerque, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Phoenix | Equivalent in Albuquerque | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $43,868 | -$6,132 |
| $75,000 | $65,802 | -$9,198 |
| $100,000 | $87,736 | -$12,264 |
| $150,000 | $131,604 | -$18,396 |
| $200,000 | $175,472 | -$24,528 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
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Cost of Living
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Property Tax Calculator
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Phoenix vs Albuquerque: Common Questions
Is Phoenix or Albuquerque cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Albuquerque is cheaper overall. Phoenix has a COL index of 106 while Albuquerque scores 93 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Phoenix and Albuquerque?
The median home price in Phoenix is $420,000 vs $285,000 in Albuquerque — a difference of $135,000 (32%).
What salary do I need in Albuquerque to match my Phoenix income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Phoenix is equivalent to $87,736 in Albuquerque in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Phoenix has a lower property tax rate (0.62% vs 0.78%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $2,223/year vs $2,604/year.
Cost of living data sourced from Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and Zillow Research. Tax rates from Tax Foundation and state revenue agencies. Last updated: March 2025.