Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Kansas City, KS
🏆 Albuquerque leads 17 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Kansas City
Kansas
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
155,438
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
More college-educated — 37.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.5%)
Households earn $5,383 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 40°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
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
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $112k less ($133,800 vs $246,000)
11% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Albuquerque by $5,383/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Median Income
$5,383
$61,503 vs $56,120/yr
Albuquerque
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.0% unemployment
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 90.2°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 93.0 on the COL index
Kansas City
Violent Crime
11% lower
1047.2 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$112k less
$133,800 vs $246,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Kansas City, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 | $133,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,044 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 ✓ Higher | $56,120 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 234⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 276⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 172⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 80.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Kansas City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 90.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 38.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" ✓ Less | 11.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 155,438 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 59.5% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Kansas City's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 17 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 17 and Kansas City wins 6. 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 Kansas City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $133,800 median home), income ($61,503 vs $56,120), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Kansas City, KS are about 712 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.