City comparison
No. Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 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 $1,937 in Port St Lucie.
Safety is where Albuquerque and Port St Lucie split most clearly. Port St Lucie scores 255 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 $1,937 in Port St Lucie.
Port St Lucie is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Albuquerque makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Port St Lucie is the stronger move.
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 Port St Lucie are 1,639 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Albuquerque to $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie, up $792 a month (69%).
Median household income goes from $68,317 in Albuquerque to $80,648 in Port St Lucie, up $12,331 (18%).
The crime index goes from 293 in Albuquerque to 38 in Port St Lucie, down 255 points (87%).
The move
Port St Lucie and Albuquerque are 1,639 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie to $1,145 a month in Albuquerque, down $792 a month (41%).
Median household income goes from $80,648 in Port St Lucie to $68,317 in Albuquerque, down $12,331 (15%).
The crime index goes from 38 in Port St Lucie to 293 in Albuquerque, up 255 points (671%).
Albuquerque, NM
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Port St Lucie, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Albuquerque and Port St Lucie? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
41% cheaper
Albuquerque rent is 41% cheaper than Port St Lucie
Albuquerque
Winner$1,145/mo
Port St Lucie
$1,937/mo
Typical rent runs $1,145 a month in Albuquerque versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie, so Albuquerque is 41% cheaper. That's roughly $792/month back in your pocket ($9,504/year). Over five years that's $47,520 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 Port St Lucie, 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 Port St Lucie? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
18% higher
Port St Lucie's median income is 18% higher than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
$68,317
Port St Lucie
Winner$80,648
Median household income is $80,648 in Port St Lucie versus $68,317 in Albuquerque, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Port St Lucie (about $12,331 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, Port St Lucie 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
87% lower crime
Port St Lucie's crime index is 87% lower than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
293 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie
Winner38 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 293 in Albuquerque (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 87% lower in Port St Lucie. 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, Port St Lucie 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
15% more comfortable
Port St Lucie weather is 15% more comfortable than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
60°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 86/100
Port St Lucie
Winner72°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 99/100
Albuquerque averages about 60°F (66°F highs); Port St Lucie averages about 72°F (76°F highs). Albuquerque averages around 60°F. Port St Lucie sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Port St Lucie scores 15% 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 Albuquerque if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
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 41% 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 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 18% higher ($80,648), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 72°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Port St Lucie is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 87% lower than Albuquerque (38 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
Crime and safety tilt toward Port St Lucie: Port St Lucie scores 89/100 versus 27/100 in Albuquerque, with typical rent at $1,937 versus $1,145. I would vet the exact ZIP in Albuquerque before trading 62 safety points for housing savings.
Port St Lucie still pays more locally ($80,648 median income vs $68,317), which can offset the lease if your field pays Port St Lucie rates.
Weather averages land near 60°F in Albuquerque and 72°F in Port St Lucie.
Pick Port St Lucie when you want the stronger safety signal (89/100). Otherwise, Albuquerque's case rests on a Albuquerque ZIP you trust at $1,145 rent.
Common questions
Ready to move to Port St Lucie?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Port St Lucie when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Albuquerque and Port St Lucie, plus other cities in NM and FL.
