Albuquerque vs El Paso
Compare Albuquerque, NM and El Paso, TX on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $1,035/mo in Albuquerque and $977/mo in El Paso, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,222/mo and $1,150/mo. State income tax also separates them — El Paso's rate is roughly 0% versus 5.9%. Across the four public-data screens El Paso comes out ahead (257 vs 244 summed points), though Albuquerque still wins specific categories below.
Climate is a real differentiator: Albuquerque runs summer highs near 93°F and winter lows near 20°F, while El Paso runs 96°F and 30°F. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with El Paso; if walkable daily life matters more, El Paso screens stronger on the walkability proxy (8 vs 5). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
El Paso leads 93 to 76 on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
El Paso leads 55 to 48 on the daily life screen.
Albuquerque leads 47 to 35 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Albuquerque is roughly $217,515 in El Paso using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque | El Paso | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,035/mo | $977/mo | El Paso |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,222/mo | $1,150/mo | El Paso |
| Median home value | $243,000 | $153,000 | El Paso |
| State income tax | 5.9% | None | El Paso |
| Average commute | 26.2 min | 25.5 min | El Paso |
| Safety score | 7/100 | 40/100 | El Paso |
| School score | 7/10 | 4/10 | Albuquerque |
| Walkability estimate | 5/100 | 8/100 | El Paso |
| Outdoor score | 10/10 | 10/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 171.9 | 181.6 | El Paso |
| Mountain distance | 39 mi | 96 mi | Albuquerque |
| Coast distance | 459 mi | 364 mi | El Paso |
What stands out
Albuquerque stronger signals
- Strong outdoor access
- Trail access within 10 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 16 miles
Albuquerque tradeoffs
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
El Paso stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Strong outdoor access
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 94 miles
El Paso tradeoffs
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
- Very hot summers
Common questions
Is Albuquerque cheaper than El Paso?
On public benchmarks El Paso is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,035/mo in Albuquerque vs $977/mo in El Paso; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,222/mo vs $1,150/mo; state income tax is 5.9% vs 0%.
Is Albuquerque or El Paso safer?
El Paso screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 7/100 for Albuquerque and 40/100 for El Paso (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Albuquerque or El Paso?
School screens show 7/10 for Albuquerque vs 4/10 for El Paso, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Albuquerque and El Paso?
Albuquerque: summer highs near 93°F, winter lows near 20°F, disaster-risk band 1/3. El Paso: 96°F / 30°F, disaster-risk band 1/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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