Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Los Angeles, CA
🏆 Albuquerque leads 15 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551
Los Angeles
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $577k less ($246,000 vs $822,600)
Rent averages $777/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,791)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.5%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Los Angeles by $14,741/yr
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
38% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Households earn $14,741 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 95°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 52°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Albuquerque
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$577k less
$246,000 vs $822,600
Albuquerque
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.7% unemployment
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
16.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 78.0°F
Los Angeles
Median Income
$14,741
$76,244 vs $61,503/yr
Los Angeles
Violent Crime
38% lower
728.5 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Los Angeles, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $822,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,791⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $76,244 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 36.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Los Angeles Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 14.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 36.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Los Angeles's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 15 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 15 and Los Angeles wins 8. 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 Los Angeles or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $822,600 median home), income ($61,503 vs $76,244), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Los Angeles, CA are about 673 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.