City comparison
Yes. Austin's crime index is 162 versus 293 in Albuquerque, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 320, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Albuquerque is cheaper. Median rent is $1,145 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
Safety is where Austin and Albuquerque split most clearly. Austin scores 131 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,729 in Austin and $1,145 in Albuquerque.
Austin 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 Austin 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
Austin and Albuquerque are 615 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,145 a month in Albuquerque, down $584 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $68,317 in Albuquerque, down $25,341 (27%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 293 in Albuquerque, up 131 points (81%).
The move
Albuquerque and Austin are 615 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Albuquerque to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $584 a month (51%).
Median household income goes from $68,317 in Albuquerque to $93,658 in Austin, up $25,341 (37%).
The crime index goes from 293 in Albuquerque to 162 in Austin, down 131 points (45%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Albuquerque, NM
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and Albuquerque? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
34% cheaper
Albuquerque rent is 34% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
Albuquerque
Winner$1,145/mo
Typical rent runs $1,145 a month in Albuquerque versus $1,729 in Austin, so Albuquerque is 34% cheaper. That's roughly $584/month back in your pocket ($7,008/year). Over five years that's $35,040 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 Austin, 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 Austin? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
37% higher
Austin's median income is 37% higher than Albuquerque
Austin
Winner$93,658
Albuquerque
$68,317
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $68,317 in Albuquerque, so typical pay runs 37% higher in Austin (about $25,341 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, Austin 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
45% lower crime
Austin's crime index is 45% lower than Albuquerque
Austin
Winner162 (100 = avg)
Albuquerque
293 (100 = avg)
Austin's crime index is 162 versus 293 in Albuquerque (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 45% lower in Austin. 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, Austin 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
3% more comfortable
Austin weather is 3% more comfortable than Albuquerque
Austin
Winner76°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Albuquerque
64°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 97/100
Austin averages about 76°F (85°F highs); Albuquerque averages about 64°F (72°F highs). Austin sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Albuquerque averages around 64°F. Austin scores 3% 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
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 37% higher ($93,658), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 76°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Austin is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 45% lower than Albuquerque (162 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 Albuquerque
Albuquerque is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 34% 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.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,145/month in Albuquerque versus $1,729 in Austin. Median income reads $68,317 in Albuquerque and $93,658 in Austin, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Albuquerque rent at $1,145/month is still below Austin's $1,729, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $93,658 in Austin versus $68,317 in Albuquerque.
Albuquerque clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Austin deserves a serious look only when your $93,658 income offer in Austin outweighs saving $584/month in Albuquerque.
Common questions
Ready to move to Austin?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Austin when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Austin and Albuquerque, plus other cities in TX and NM.
