Performance
Score Breakdown
Toronto
Albuquerque
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Toronto is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
48% lower compared to Albuquerque.
Housing costs are a major driver: Toronto's average rent is
43% higher than Albuquerque's.
| Metric | Toronto | Albuquerque | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,686 | $1,178 | +43% |
| Groceries | $353 | $400 | -12% |
| Utilities | $155 | $195 | -21% |
| Transport | $92 | $120 | -23% |
| Healthcare | $100 | $2,723 | -96% |
| Monthly Total | $2,386 | $4,616 | -48% |
| Cost Index | 71 | 97 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Albuquerque offers 31% 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 Toronto is estimated at
$55,013 vs $69,443 in Albuquerque.
| Metric | Toronto | Albuquerque |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $52,898 | $77,000 |
| Salary Needed | $55,013 | $69,443 |
| Purchasing Power | 74,504 idx | 79,381 idx |
| Household Income | $59,245 | $71,494 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Toronto | Albuquerque |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 75.00% | % |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Albuquerque has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,500 minutes (58 hours) per year compared to Toronto.
Toronto scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Toronto leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Toronto | Albuquerque |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 32 min | 25 min |
| Transit Score | 78.0/10 | 35.0/10 |
| Walkability | 71.0/10 | 43.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 180.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Toronto is the larger city
— approximately 5.4x the population of Albuquerque.
From a growth perspective, Toronto 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 | Toronto | Albuquerque |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,025,647 | 560,326 |
| Pop. Growth | 3.90% | % |
| Median Age | 41.5 | 38.8 |
| Unemployment | 8.90% | 4.20% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Toronto
Advantages
Toronto was the fastest-growing metropolitan area in Canada and the U.S. for the second consecutive year, with its population surging by 3.9% between July 2023 and July 2024.
The city is a major business hub with a strong job market, particularly in high-demand fields like technology (fintech, AI) and healthcare.
Toronto boasts a highly diverse and multicultural population, with over half of its residents born outside of Canada, contributing to a rich cultural landscape.
The public transit system (TTC) is comprehensive, offering extensive subway, streetcar, and bus networks for easy navigation without a car.
Toronto offers a vibrant arts and culture scene, diverse culinary options, and numerous parks and green spaces for a high quality of life.
Drawbacks
Toronto has a high cost of living, with average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center around $1,479 USD per month as of July 2026.
The unemployment rate in Toronto was elevated at 8.9% in September 2025, higher than both provincial and national averages.
The housing market faces significant affordability challenges, with average home prices reaching $1.05 million CAD in July 2024.
Rapid population growth has strained transportation infrastructure, leading to traffic congestion and longer commute times, averaging 32 minutes.
Despite job growth, the influx of workers has outpaced job absorption in some sectors, contributing to the higher unemployment rate.
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.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Toronto
#13Ontario, Canada
72.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,686
Avg Salary
$52,898
Cost Index
71
Commute
32 min
Transit Score
78.0/10
Walkability
71.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
3.90%
Unemployment
8.90%
Livability
74
Business
70
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
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