City comparison
Yes. Oklahoma City's crime index is 183 versus 293 in Albuquerque, and its violent crime index is 197 versus 320, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Oklahoma City is cheaper. Median rent is $1,130 a month versus $1,145 in Albuquerque.
Safety is where Oklahoma City and Albuquerque split most clearly. Oklahoma City scores 110 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,130 in Oklahoma City and $1,145 in Albuquerque.
Oklahoma City is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, 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 Oklahoma City is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Oklahoma City has rougher pockets and Albuquerque has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Oklahoma City and Albuquerque are 516 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City to $1,145 a month in Albuquerque, up $15 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $68,656 in Oklahoma City to $68,317 in Albuquerque, down $339 (under 1%).
The crime index goes from 183 in Oklahoma City to 293 in Albuquerque, up 110 points (60%).
The move
Albuquerque and Oklahoma City are 516 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Albuquerque to $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City, down $15 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $68,317 in Albuquerque to $68,656 in Oklahoma City, up $339 (under 1%).
The crime index goes from 293 in Albuquerque to 183 in Oklahoma City, down 110 points (38%).
Oklahoma City, OK
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 Oklahoma City and Albuquerque? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Oklahoma City rent is 1% cheaper than Albuquerque
Oklahoma City
Winner$1,130/mo
Albuquerque
$1,145/mo
Typical rent runs $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City versus $1,145 in Albuquerque, so Oklahoma City is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $15, or $180 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 Oklahoma City? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Oklahoma City's median income is 1% higher than Albuquerque
Oklahoma City
Winner$68,656
Albuquerque
$68,317
Median household income is $68,656 in Oklahoma City versus $68,317 in Albuquerque, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Oklahoma City (about $339 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
38% lower crime
Oklahoma City's crime index is 38% lower than Albuquerque
Oklahoma City
Winner183 (100 = avg)
Albuquerque
293 (100 = avg)
Oklahoma City's crime index is 183 versus 293 in Albuquerque (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 38% lower in Oklahoma City. 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, Oklahoma City 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
Oklahoma City weather is 3% more comfortable than Albuquerque
Oklahoma City
Winner61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
Albuquerque
60°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 86/100
Oklahoma City averages about 61°F (69°F highs); Albuquerque averages about 60°F (66°F highs). Oklahoma City averages around 61°F. Albuquerque averages around 60°F. Oklahoma City 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
Oklahoma City is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $1,130 a month. Choose Oklahoma City if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 1% higher ($68,656), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 61°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Oklahoma City is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 38% lower than Albuquerque (183 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
On these five categories Oklahoma City takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Albuquerque because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Albuquerque only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Oklahoma City: Oklahoma City scores 42/100 versus 27/100 in Albuquerque, with matched rent near $1,130/month. I would vet the exact ZIP in Albuquerque before trading 15 safety points for an identical lease.
Median income is $68,656 in Oklahoma City versus $68,317 in Albuquerque — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
If safety drives your move, Oklahoma City is the stronger match (42/100 safety versus 27/100). 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.
Weather averages land near 61°F in Oklahoma City and 60°F in Albuquerque.
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