City comparison
Yes. Los Angeles's crime index is 158 versus 293 in Albuquerque, and its violent crime index is 202 versus 320, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Albuquerque is cheaper. Median rent is $1,145 a month versus $1,933 in Los Angeles.
Safety is where Los Angeles and Albuquerque split most clearly. Los Angeles scores 135 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,933 in Los Angeles and $1,145 in Albuquerque.
Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles 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
Los Angeles and Albuquerque are 663 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,933 a month in Los Angeles to $1,145 a month in Albuquerque, down $788 a month (41%).
Median household income goes from $81,939 in Los Angeles to $68,317 in Albuquerque, down $13,622 (17%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Los Angeles to 293 in Albuquerque, up 135 points (85%).
The move
Albuquerque and Los Angeles are 663 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Albuquerque to $1,933 a month in Los Angeles, up $788 a month (69%).
Median household income goes from $68,317 in Albuquerque to $81,939 in Los Angeles, up $13,622 (20%).
The crime index goes from 293 in Albuquerque to 158 in Los Angeles, down 135 points (46%).
Los Angeles, CA
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 Los Angeles and Albuquerque? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
41% cheaper
Albuquerque rent is 41% cheaper than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$1,933/mo
Albuquerque
Winner$1,145/mo
Typical rent runs $1,145 a month in Albuquerque versus $1,933 in Los Angeles, so Albuquerque is 41% cheaper. That's roughly $788/month back in your pocket ($9,456/year). Over five years that's $47,280 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 Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
20% higher
Los Angeles's median income is 20% higher than Albuquerque
Los Angeles
Winner$81,939
Albuquerque
$68,317
Median household income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $68,317 in Albuquerque, so typical pay runs 20% higher in Los Angeles (about $13,622 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, Los Angeles 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
46% lower crime
Los Angeles's crime index is 46% lower than Albuquerque
Los Angeles
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Albuquerque
293 (100 = avg)
Los Angeles's crime index is 158 versus 293 in Albuquerque (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 46% lower in Los Angeles. 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, Los Angeles 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
Los Angeles weather is 3% more comfortable than Albuquerque
Los Angeles
Winner76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Albuquerque
64°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 97/100
Los Angeles averages about 76°F (83°F highs); Albuquerque averages about 64°F (72°F highs). Los Angeles sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Albuquerque averages around 64°F. Los Angeles 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 20% higher ($81,939), 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.
Los Angeles is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 46% lower than Albuquerque (158 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 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.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Albuquerque at $1,145/month versus $1,933 in Los Angeles ($788 apart). Los Angeles median income is $81,939 against $68,317 in Albuquerque, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Albuquerque rent at $1,145/month is still below Los Angeles's $1,933, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $68,317 in Albuquerque.
If housing cost drives your move, Albuquerque is the stronger match ($1,145/month rent against $1,933). If an employer or family tie already points to Los Angeles, treat $1,933/month rent and $81,939 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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