Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 Albuquerque leads 16 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
St. Louis
Missouri
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3
Median Household Income
$52,941
Violent Crime Index
360⚠ High
Population
298,018
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
14% less violent crime than St. Louis
Households earn $8,562 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 41°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Louis
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
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Homes cost $72k less ($174,100 vs $246,000)
Rent averages $76/mo less ($938 vs $1,014)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
Cons
Violent crime (1367.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Albuquerque by $8,562/yr
Property crime (5706.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Albuquerque
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 96.3 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Income
$8,562
$61,503 vs $52,941/yr
Albuquerque
Violent Crime
14% lower
1181.8 vs 1367.1 per 100k
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 89.6°F
St. Louis
Median Home Value
$72k less
$174,100 vs $246,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 96.3 |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 | $938 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 ✓ Higher | $52,941 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High ✓ Safer | 325⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High ✓ Safer | 360⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High ✓ Safer | 272⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% | 38.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 40.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 298,018 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 44.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 14.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 16 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 16 and St. Louis wins 7. 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 St. Louis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $174,100 median home), income ($61,503 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and St. Louis, MO are about 937 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.