City comparison
Yes. Albuquerque's crime index is 293 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 320 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,145 in Albuquerque.
The income gap between Albuquerque and St Louis is significant: $68,317 median household versus $56,160. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,145 in Albuquerque and $997 in St Louis.
Albuquerque is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. St Louis makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Albuquerque is the stronger move.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Albuquerque and St Louis are 941 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Albuquerque to $997 a month in St Louis, down $148 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $68,317 in Albuquerque to $56,160 in St Louis, down $12,157 (18%).
The crime index goes from 293 in Albuquerque to 352 in St Louis, up 59 points (20%).
The move
St Louis and Albuquerque are 941 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,145 a month in Albuquerque, up $148 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $68,317 in Albuquerque, up $12,157 (22%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 293 in Albuquerque, down 59 points (17%).
Albuquerque, NM
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Louis, MO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Albuquerque and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
St Louis rent is 13% cheaper than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
$1,145/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,145 in Albuquerque, so St Louis 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 $1,776, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. St Louis 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 Albuquerque? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
22% higher
Albuquerque's median income is 22% higher than St Louis
Albuquerque
Winner$68,317
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $68,317 in Albuquerque versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 22% higher in Albuquerque (about $12,157 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. St Louis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
17% lower crime
Albuquerque's crime index is 17% lower than St Louis
Albuquerque
Winner293 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Albuquerque's crime index is 293 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 17% lower in Albuquerque. 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, Albuquerque is the easier city. St Louis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
8% more comfortable
Albuquerque weather is 8% more comfortable than St Louis
Albuquerque
Winner60°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 86/100
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Albuquerque averages about 60°F (66°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Albuquerque averages around 60°F. St Louis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Albuquerque scores 8% 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 St Louis 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 22% higher ($68,317), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 60°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Albuquerque is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 17% lower than St Louis (293 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to St Louis
St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% cheaper here at about $997 a month. Choose St Louis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Pay is the headline: Albuquerque median income is $68,317 versus $56,160 in St Louis (18% higher). Rent still runs $1,145/month in Albuquerque and $997/month in St Louis, so the wage edge only helps if your offer matches Albuquerque rates.
With only $148 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $997 in St Louis and $1,145 in Albuquerque.
If local pay drives your move, Albuquerque is the stronger match ($68,317 median income against $56,160). If an employer or family tie already points to St Louis, treat $997/month rent and $56,160 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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