City comparison
No. Cincinnati's crime index is 231 versus 293 in Albuquerque, and its violent crime index is 237 versus 320, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cincinnati is cheaper. Median rent is $1,001 a month versus $1,145 in Albuquerque.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Albuquerque and Cincinnati. Albuquerque averages 65°F while Cincinnati averages 53°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,145 versus $1,001.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Cincinnati costs less and Albuquerque 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 crime gap is citywide. Cincinnati has rougher pockets and Albuquerque has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Albuquerque and Cincinnati are 1,248 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Albuquerque to $1,001 a month in Cincinnati, down $144 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $68,317 in Albuquerque to $52,909 in Cincinnati, down $15,408 (23%).
The crime index goes from 293 in Albuquerque to 231 in Cincinnati, down 62 points (21%).
The move
Cincinnati and Albuquerque are 1,248 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,001 a month in Cincinnati to $1,145 a month in Albuquerque, up $144 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $52,909 in Cincinnati to $68,317 in Albuquerque, up $15,408 (29%).
The crime index goes from 231 in Cincinnati to 293 in Albuquerque, up 62 points (27%).
Albuquerque, NM
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Cincinnati, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Albuquerque and Cincinnati? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
Cincinnati rent is 13% cheaper than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
$1,145/mo
Cincinnati
Winner$1,001/mo
Typical rent runs $1,001 a month in Cincinnati versus $1,145 in Albuquerque, so Cincinnati is 13% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $1,728, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Cincinnati still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Albuquerque.
Planning to buy in Cincinnati? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
29% higher
Albuquerque's median income is 29% higher than Cincinnati
Albuquerque
Winner$68,317
Cincinnati
$52,909
Median household income is $68,317 in Albuquerque versus $52,909 in Cincinnati, so typical pay runs 29% higher in Albuquerque (about $15,408 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, Albuquerque is the stronger labor market on paper. Cincinnati can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
21% lower crime
Cincinnati's crime index is 21% lower than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
293 (100 = avg)
Cincinnati
Winner231 (100 = avg)
Cincinnati's crime index is 231 versus 293 in Albuquerque (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 21% lower in Cincinnati. 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, Cincinnati 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
52% more comfortable
Albuquerque weather is 52% more comfortable than Cincinnati
Albuquerque
Winner65°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cincinnati
53°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 66/100
Albuquerque averages about 65°F (72°F highs); Cincinnati averages about 53°F (62°F highs). Albuquerque sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Cincinnati averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Albuquerque scores 52% 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 Cincinnati if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 29% higher ($68,317), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 65°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Cincinnati is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% cheaper here at about $1,001 a month. Choose Cincinnati if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Cincinnati is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 21% lower than Albuquerque (231 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
Weather separates these metros: $1,145/month rent in Albuquerque at 65°F versus $1,001 in Cincinnati at 53°F. Income runs $68,317 vs $52,909, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Cincinnati rent at $1,001/month is still below Albuquerque's $1,145, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 27/100 in Albuquerque and 35/100 in Cincinnati.
Albuquerque wins on climate (65°F vs 53°F); Cincinnati is the better fit if $1,001 rent and $52,909 pay matter more than daily weather.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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