Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Las Vegas, NV
🏆 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
Las Vegas
Nevada
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,356 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
113⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
644,835 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $119k less ($246,000 vs $365,300)
Rent averages $342/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,356)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 37.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Las Vegas
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
Median income trails Las Vegas by $4,853/yr
Las Vegas, NV
Pros
64% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Households earn $4,853 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 52°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $365,300
Higher rents — median is $1,356/mo
Property crime (2622.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$119k less
$246,000 vs $365,300
Albuquerque
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.4% unemployment
Las Vegas
Median Income
$4,853
$66,356 vs $61,503/yr
Las Vegas
Violent Crime
64% lower
429.8 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Las Vegas
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 103.8°F vs 94.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Las Vegas, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 101.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $365,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,356⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $66,356 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F | 103.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" | 6.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 | 644,835 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Las Vegas's 101.6 (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 Las Vegas 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 Las Vegas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $365,300 median home), income ($61,503 vs $66,356), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Las Vegas, NV are about 490 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.