City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 293 in Albuquerque, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 320, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Albuquerque is cheaper. Median rent is $1,145 a month versus $1,446 in Boise.
Safety is where Albuquerque and Boise split most clearly. Boise scores 220 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,145 in Albuquerque and $1,446 in Boise.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Albuquerque costs less and Boise pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Albuquerque at $1,145 average has pockets that run $945 and others at $1,545: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Albuquerque and Boise are 779 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Albuquerque to $1,446 a month in Boise, up $301 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $68,317 in Albuquerque to $83,904 in Boise, up $15,587 (23%).
The crime index goes from 293 in Albuquerque to 73 in Boise, down 220 points (75%).
The move
Boise and Albuquerque are 779 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,145 a month in Albuquerque, down $301 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $68,317 in Albuquerque, down $15,587 (19%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 293 in Albuquerque, up 220 points (301%).
Albuquerque, NM
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Boise, ID
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Albuquerque and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
21% cheaper
Albuquerque rent is 21% cheaper than Boise
Albuquerque
Winner$1,145/mo
Boise
$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,145 a month in Albuquerque versus $1,446 in Boise, so Albuquerque is 21% cheaper. That's roughly $301/month back in your pocket ($3,612/year). Over five years that's $18,060 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Boise, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Albuquerque is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Albuquerque? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
23% higher
Boise's median income is 23% higher than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
$68,317
Boise
Winner$83,904
Median household income is $83,904 in Boise versus $68,317 in Albuquerque, so typical pay runs 23% higher in Boise (about $15,587 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Boise is the stronger labor market on paper. Albuquerque can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
75% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 75% lower than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
293 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 293 in Albuquerque (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 75% lower in Boise. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Boise is the easier city. Albuquerque can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Albuquerque weather is 12% more comfortable than Boise
Albuquerque
Winner65°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boise
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Albuquerque averages about 65°F (72°F highs); Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Albuquerque sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Boise averages around 61°F. Albuquerque scores 12% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Boise if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Albuquerque is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 21% cheaper here at about $1,145 a month. Choose Albuquerque if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Albuquerque if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (65°F) beat Boise on this page's weather index by 12%. Boise may pay more or cost less, but Albuquerque is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Boise is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 23% higher here ($83,904). Start with Boise if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Boise is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 75% lower than Albuquerque (73 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Boise leads on safety (70/100 vs 27/100 in Albuquerque). Typical rent is $1,446 in Boise and $1,145 in Albuquerque; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Boise still pays more locally ($83,904 median income vs $68,317), which can offset the lease if your field pays Boise rates.
Median income is $83,904 in Boise versus $68,317 in Albuquerque.
Boise is ahead on safety (70/100 vs 27/100); Albuquerque is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,145/month rent plus $68,317 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
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