Performance
Score Breakdown
Albuquerque
New York City
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Albuquerque is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
1% lower compared to New York City.
Housing costs are a major driver: Albuquerque's average rent is
65% lower than New York City's.
| Metric | Albuquerque | New York City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,178 | $3,382 | -65% |
| Groceries | $400 | $520 | -23% |
| Utilities | $195 | $370 | -47% |
| Transport | $120 | $130 | -8% |
| Healthcare | $2,723 | $250 | +989% |
| Monthly Total | $4,616 | $4,652 | -1% |
| Cost Index | 97 | 178 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
New York City offers 24% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Albuquerque delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Albuquerque is estimated at
$69,443 vs $61,000 in New York City.
| Metric | Albuquerque | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $77,000 | $100,877 |
| Salary Needed | $69,443 | $61,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 79,381 idx | 56,672 idx |
| Household Income | $71,494 | $80,483 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Albuquerque | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | % | 63.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Albuquerque has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
9,000 minutes (150 hours) per year compared to New York City.
New York City scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, New York City leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Albuquerque | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 25 min | 43 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/10 | 88.0/10 |
| Walkability | 43.0/10 | 89.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 167.60 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | Low |
Population
Economy & Demographics
New York City is the larger city
— approximately 0.1x the population of Albuquerque.
From a growth perspective, Albuquerque is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Albuquerque has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Albuquerque | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 560,326 | 8,585,000 |
| Pop. Growth | % | % |
| Median Age | 38.8 | 38.2 |
| Unemployment | 4.20% | 4.90% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $1,354.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Albuquerque
Advantages
The cost of living in Albuquerque is 3% lower than the national average, making it more affordable than many U.S. cities.
Housing expenses are notably reasonable, with average rent 29% lower than the national average.
Albuquerque boasts a highly accessible park system, ranking 15th nationally in 2024, with 90% of residents living within a walkable half-mile of a park.
The city offers a rich cultural heritage and a vibrant arts scene, including the renowned International Balloon Fiesta.
Healthcare costs are lower than the national average, with annual medical costs for a single adult around $2,723 in 2024.
Drawbacks
Albuquerque has a high violent crime rate, which is 229% above the national average, resulting in an 'F' safety grade.
The city's overall walkability score of 43 indicates a high reliance on cars for most daily errands.
Despite a decrease in violent crime, burglaries increased by 11% in 2024.
The population experienced a slight decline of 0.25% in 2024.
Specific recent data for long-term care costs (home care, assisted living, nursing home) were not readily available.
New York City
Advantages
New York City is the most linguistically diverse city globally, with an estimated 800 languages spoken.
The city boasts a world-class public transportation system, with a transit score of 88 and a walkability score of 89.
New York City's private sector employment reached a record high of 4.25 million jobs in December 2024.
Overall index crime in New York City saw a nearly 3% reduction in 2024, marking the second consecutive year of declines.
New York City is a global hub for finance, media, tech, healthcare, and tourism, offering unparalleled opportunities.
Drawbacks
The cost of living in New York City is 78% higher than the national average, making it one of the most expensive cities globally.
Median rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Manhattan reached $4,595 in April 2024.
The city experienced a population decline of 12,000 residents between June 2024 and July 2025.
New York City has a high traffic index of 167.6 and an average commute time of 43.34 minutes.
Housing affordability has reached a crisis due to high costs and a slow pace of new housing construction.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Albuquerque
#21New Mexico, USA
72.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,178
Avg Salary
$77,000
Cost Index
97
Commute
25 min
Transit Score
35.0/10
Walkability
43.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
74
Business
68
New York City
#64New York, USA
68.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$3,382
Avg Salary
$100,877
Cost Index
178
Commute
43 min
Transit Score
88.0/10
Walkability
89.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.90%
Livability
70
Business
62
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