Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Charleston, SC
🏆 Albuquerque leads 12 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Charleston
South Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
94 ✓ Safer
Population
149,960
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $193k less ($246,000 vs $438,900)
Rent averages $503/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,517)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Charleston
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cons
Median income trails Charleston by $22,388/yr
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.7%)
Charleston, SC
Pros
70% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Households earn $22,388 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 95°F
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 52°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Higher rents — median is $1,517/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Albuquerque
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$193k less
$246,000 vs $438,900
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 87.5°F
Charleston
Median Income
$22,388
$83,891 vs $61,503/yr
Charleston
Violent Crime
70% lower
357.6 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Charleston
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 102.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $438,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,517⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $83,891 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 94 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% | 57.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 95.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 87.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 52.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 149,960 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 55.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 16.7% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 16.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Charleston's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 12 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 12 and Charleston wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $438,900 median home), income ($61,503 vs $83,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Charleston, SC are about 1,532 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.