Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Phoenix leads 12 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551
Phoenix
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$72,092 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $94k less ($246,000 vs $340,200)
Rent averages $308/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,322)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 104°F
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Phoenix by $10,589/yr
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
32% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Households earn $10,589 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 52°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $340,200
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Albuquerque
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$94k less
$246,000 vs $340,200
Phoenix
Median Income
$10,589
$72,092 vs $61,503/yr
Phoenix
Violent Crime
32% lower
799.6 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Phoenix
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 94.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $340,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,322 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $72,092 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 14.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 210⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 56.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 12 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 11 and Phoenix wins 12. 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 Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $340,200 median home), income ($61,503 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Phoenix, AZ are about 328 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.