City comparison
No. Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 293 in Albuquerque, and its violent crime index is 204 versus 320, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Albuquerque is cheaper. Median rent is $1,145 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Safety is where Albuquerque and Colorado Springs split most clearly. Colorado Springs scores 93 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 $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Albuquerque costs less and Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs are 278 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Albuquerque to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, up $503 a month (44%).
Median household income goes from $68,317 in Albuquerque to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, up $16,501 (24%).
The crime index goes from 293 in Albuquerque to 200 in Colorado Springs, down 93 points (32%).
The move
Colorado Springs and Albuquerque are 278 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,145 a month in Albuquerque, down $503 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $68,317 in Albuquerque, down $16,501 (19%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 293 in Albuquerque, up 93 points (47%).
Albuquerque, NM
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Colorado Springs, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Albuquerque and Colorado Springs? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
31% cheaper
Albuquerque rent is 31% cheaper than Colorado Springs
Albuquerque
Winner$1,145/mo
Colorado Springs
$1,648/mo
Typical rent runs $1,145 a month in Albuquerque versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs, so Albuquerque is 31% cheaper. That's roughly $503/month back in your pocket ($6,036/year). Over five years that's $30,180 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 Colorado Springs, 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
24% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 24% higher than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
$68,317
Colorado Springs
Winner$84,818
Median household income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $68,317 in Albuquerque, so typical pay runs 24% higher in Colorado Springs (about $16,501 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, Colorado Springs 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
32% lower crime
Colorado Springs's crime index is 32% lower than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
293 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs
Winner200 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 293 in Albuquerque (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 32% lower in Colorado Springs. 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, Colorado Springs 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
19% more comfortable
Albuquerque weather is 19% more comfortable than Colorado Springs
Albuquerque
Winner60°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 86/100
Colorado Springs
55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Albuquerque averages about 60°F (66°F highs); Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs). Albuquerque averages around 60°F. Colorado Springs averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Albuquerque scores 19% 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 Colorado Springs 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 31% 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 (60°F) beat Colorado Springs on this page's weather index by 19%. Colorado Springs 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
Colorado Springs is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 24% higher here ($84,818). Start with Colorado Springs if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Colorado Springs is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 32% lower than Albuquerque (200 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
Rent is the clearest fork: Albuquerque at $1,145/month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs ($503 apart). Colorado Springs median income is $84,818 against $68,317 in Albuquerque, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Albuquerque rent at $1,145/month is still below Colorado Springs's $1,648, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $68,317 in Albuquerque.
Albuquerque clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Colorado Springs deserves a serious look only when your $84,818 income offer in Colorado Springs outweighs saving $503/month in Albuquerque.
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