City comparison
Yes. Milwaukee's crime index is 266 versus 293 in Albuquerque, and its violent crime index is 375 versus 320, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Milwaukee is cheaper. Median rent is $1,059 a month versus $1,145 in Albuquerque.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Milwaukee and Albuquerque. Milwaukee averages 55°F while Albuquerque averages 65°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,059 versus $1,145.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Milwaukee costs less and Albuquerque 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.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit Milwaukee in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
Milwaukee and Albuquerque are 1,142 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,059 a month in Milwaukee to $1,145 a month in Albuquerque, up $86 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $54,234 in Milwaukee to $68,317 in Albuquerque, up $14,083 (26%).
The crime index goes from 266 in Milwaukee to 293 in Albuquerque, up 27 points (10%).
The move
Albuquerque and Milwaukee are 1,142 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Albuquerque to $1,059 a month in Milwaukee, down $86 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $68,317 in Albuquerque to $54,234 in Milwaukee, down $14,083 (21%).
The crime index goes from 293 in Albuquerque to 266 in Milwaukee, down 27 points (9%).
Milwaukee, WI
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 Milwaukee and Albuquerque? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
Milwaukee rent is 8% cheaper than Albuquerque
Milwaukee
Winner$1,059/mo
Albuquerque
$1,145/mo
Typical rent runs $1,059 a month in Milwaukee versus $1,145 in Albuquerque, so Milwaukee is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $86, or $1,032 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Milwaukee? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
26% higher
Albuquerque's median income is 26% higher than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
$54,234
Albuquerque
Winner$68,317
Median household income is $68,317 in Albuquerque versus $54,234 in Milwaukee, so typical pay runs 26% higher in Albuquerque (about $14,083 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. Milwaukee can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
9% lower crime
Milwaukee's crime index is 9% lower than Albuquerque
Milwaukee
Winner266 (100 = avg)
Albuquerque
293 (100 = avg)
Milwaukee's crime index is 266 versus 293 in Albuquerque (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 9% lower in Milwaukee. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Milwaukee, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Albuquerque. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Albuquerque weather is 39% more comfortable than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
Albuquerque
Winner65°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Milwaukee averages about 55°F (61°F highs); Albuquerque averages about 65°F (72°F highs). Milwaukee averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Albuquerque sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Albuquerque scores 39% 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 Milwaukee if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Milwaukee is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 8% cheaper here at about $1,059 a month. Choose Milwaukee if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Milwaukee is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 9% lower than Albuquerque (266 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
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 26% higher ($68,317), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 65°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Bottom line
Albuquerque runs 65°F typical weather against 55°F in Milwaukee (comfort scores 100 vs 72). Housing is $1,145/month versus $1,059/month, so this decision is lifestyle-weighted as much as financial.
Milwaukee rent at $1,059/month is still below Albuquerque's $1,145, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 30/100 in Milwaukee and 27/100 in Albuquerque.
If climate drives your move, Milwaukee is the stronger match (55°F typical weather versus 65°F). If an employer or family tie already points to Albuquerque, treat $1,145/month rent and $68,317 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Milwaukee and Albuquerque, plus other cities in WI and NM.
