City comparison
No. Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 293 in Albuquerque, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 320, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Albuquerque is cheaper. Median rent is $1,145 a month versus $2,110 in Gilbert.
Safety is where Albuquerque and Gilbert split most clearly. Gilbert scores 246 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 $2,110 in Gilbert.
This is a genuine split. Albuquerque wins on cost of living and Gilbert wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
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 Gilbert are 317 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Albuquerque to $2,110 a month in Gilbert, up $965 a month (84%).
Median household income goes from $68,317 in Albuquerque to $122,551 in Gilbert, up $54,234 (79%).
The crime index goes from 293 in Albuquerque to 47 in Gilbert, down 246 points (84%).
The move
Gilbert and Albuquerque are 317 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,110 a month in Gilbert to $1,145 a month in Albuquerque, down $965 a month (46%).
Median household income goes from $122,551 in Gilbert to $68,317 in Albuquerque, down $54,234 (44%).
The crime index goes from 47 in Gilbert to 293 in Albuquerque, up 246 points (523%).
Albuquerque, NM
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Gilbert, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Albuquerque and Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
46% cheaper
Albuquerque rent is 46% cheaper than Gilbert
Albuquerque
Winner$1,145/mo
Gilbert
$2,110/mo
Typical rent runs $1,145 a month in Albuquerque versus $2,110 in Gilbert, so Albuquerque is 46% cheaper. That's roughly $965/month back in your pocket ($11,580/year). Over five years that's $57,900 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 Gilbert, 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 Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
79% higher
Gilbert's median income is 79% higher than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
$68,317
Gilbert
Winner$122,551
Median household income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $68,317 in Albuquerque, so typical pay runs 79% higher in Gilbert (about $54,234 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, Gilbert 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
84% lower crime
Gilbert's crime index is 84% lower than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
293 (100 = avg)
Gilbert
Winner47 (100 = avg)
Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 293 in Albuquerque (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 84% lower in Gilbert. 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, Gilbert 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
Neck and neck
Albuquerque and Gilbert are about even on typical weather.
Albuquerque
65°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Gilbert
80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Albuquerque averages about 65°F (72°F highs); Gilbert averages about 80°F (87°F highs). Albuquerque sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Gilbert sits near 80°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Albuquerque
Albuquerque is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 46% 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Gilbert is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 79% higher here ($122,551). Start with Gilbert if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Gilbert is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 84% lower than Albuquerque (47 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
Albuquerque carries the heavier crime signal on this page (27/100 safety vs 83/100 in Gilbert). That 56-point spread matters more than the $965 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Gilbert still pays more locally ($122,551 median income vs $68,317), which can offset the lease if your field pays Gilbert rates.
Median income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $68,317 in Albuquerque.
If safety drives your move, Gilbert is the stronger match (83/100 safety versus 27/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Albuquerque, treat $1,145/month rent and $68,317 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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