City comparison
Yes. Chicago's crime index is 167 versus 293 in Albuquerque, and its violent crime index is 139 versus 320, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Albuquerque is cheaper. Median rent is $1,145 a month versus $1,440 in Chicago.
Safety is where Chicago and Albuquerque split most clearly. Chicago scores 126 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,440 in Chicago and $1,145 in Albuquerque.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Albuquerque costs less and Chicago 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
Chicago and Albuquerque are 1,126 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,440 a month in Chicago to $1,145 a month in Albuquerque, down $295 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $77,902 in Chicago to $68,317 in Albuquerque, down $9,585 (12%).
The crime index goes from 167 in Chicago to 293 in Albuquerque, up 126 points (75%).
The move
Albuquerque and Chicago are 1,126 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Albuquerque to $1,440 a month in Chicago, up $295 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $68,317 in Albuquerque to $77,902 in Chicago, up $9,585 (14%).
The crime index goes from 293 in Albuquerque to 167 in Chicago, down 126 points (43%).
Chicago, IL
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 Chicago and Albuquerque? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Albuquerque rent is 20% cheaper than Chicago
Chicago
$1,440/mo
Albuquerque
Winner$1,145/mo
Typical rent runs $1,145 a month in Albuquerque versus $1,440 in Chicago, so Albuquerque is 20% 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 $3,540, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Albuquerque still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Chicago.
Planning to buy in Albuquerque? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
14% higher
Chicago's median income is 14% higher than Albuquerque
Chicago
Winner$77,902
Albuquerque
$68,317
Median household income is $77,902 in Chicago versus $68,317 in Albuquerque, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Chicago (about $9,585 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, Chicago 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
43% lower crime
Chicago's crime index is 43% lower than Albuquerque
Chicago
Winner167 (100 = avg)
Albuquerque
293 (100 = avg)
Chicago's crime index is 167 versus 293 in Albuquerque (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 43% lower in Chicago. 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, Chicago 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
17% more comfortable
Albuquerque weather is 17% more comfortable than Chicago
Chicago
59°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 83/100
Albuquerque
Winner64°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 97/100
Chicago averages about 59°F (65°F highs); Albuquerque averages about 64°F (72°F highs). Chicago averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Albuquerque averages around 64°F. Albuquerque scores 17% 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 Chicago 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 and professional growth
Chicago is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 14% higher here ($77,902). Start with Chicago if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Chicago is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 43% lower than Albuquerque (167 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
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 20% 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 (64°F) beat Chicago on this page's weather index by 17%. Chicago may pay more or cost less, but Albuquerque is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Chicago scores 44/100 versus 27/100 in Albuquerque. Rent is $1,440/month in Chicago and $1,145/month in Albuquerque, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Chicago still pays more locally ($77,902 median income vs $68,317), which can offset the lease if your field pays Chicago rates.
Weather averages land near 59°F in Chicago and 64°F in Albuquerque.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Chicago; Albuquerque only makes sense when you have walked the Albuquerque ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,145 rent.
Common questions
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