Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Mount Pleasant, SC
🏆 Mount Pleasant leads 15 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Mount Pleasant
South Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,167 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
90,945
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $363k less ($246,000 vs $608,600)
Rent averages $887/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,901)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Mount Pleasant
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cons
Median income trails Mount Pleasant by $53,664/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 3.2%)
Mount Pleasant, SC
Pros
Households earn $53,664 more per year on average
89% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 65.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (128.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 52°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $608,600
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Albuquerque
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 105.9 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$363k less
$246,000 vs $608,600
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 91.1°F
Mount Pleasant
Median Income
$53,664
$115,167 vs $61,503/yr
Mount Pleasant
Violent Crime
89% lower
128.4 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Mount Pleasant
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Mount Pleasant, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 105.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $608,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $115,167 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 56 ✓ 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% | 65.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 97.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 59.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 54.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 90,945 |
| Median Age | 38.0 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% | 72.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Mount Pleasant's 105.9 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mount Pleasant leads 15 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 8 and Mount Pleasant wins 15. 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 Mount Pleasant or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $608,600 median home), income ($61,503 vs $115,167), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Mount Pleasant, SC are about 1,538 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.