Is Albuquerque cheaper than Arlington?

Yes. Typical rent in Albuquerque is $1,464 a month versus $1,723 in Arlington — 15% cheaper. Median household income is $61,503 in Albuquerque compared with $71,736 in Arlington, so Arlington has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Albuquerque or Arlington?

Arlington is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 179 in Albuquerque — 39% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Albuquerque or Arlington?

School composites are close: A- in Albuquerque and A- in Arlington. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

New search

City comparison

Albuquerque, NM vs Arlington, TX

Albuquerque, NM versus Arlington, TX is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,464 a month in Albuquerque and $1,723 in Arlington, and median household income lands at $61,503 versus $71,736. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Albuquerque takes affordability and weather, while Arlington takes job market and safety. The widest gap is crime index, where Arlington leads by 39% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Albuquerque can feel further apart than Albuquerque and Arlington do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Albuquerque and Arlington reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Albuquerque report Full Arlington report

Albuquerque, NM

Rent: $1,464/mo
Median income: $61,503
Crime index: 179
Schools: A-
Weather: 86°F

Arlington, TX

Rent: $1,723/mo
Median income: $71,736
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 92°F

Rent

15% cheaper

Albuquerque rent is 15% cheaper than Arlington

Albuquerque

Winner

$1,464/mo

Arlington

$1,723/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,464 a month in Albuquerque versus $1,723 in Arlington, so Albuquerque is 15% 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 $3,108 — 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 Arlington.

Median income

17% higher

Arlington's median income is 17% higher than Albuquerque

Albuquerque

$61,503

Arlington

Winner

$71,736

What this means for your life

Median household income is $71,736 in Arlington versus $61,503 in Albuquerque, so typical pay runs 17% higher in Arlington — about $10,233 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, Arlington 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

39% lower crime

Arlington's crime index is 39% lower than Albuquerque

Albuquerque

179 (100 = avg)

Arlington

Winner

109 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Arlington's crime index is 109 versus 179 in Albuquerque (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 39% lower in Arlington. 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, Arlington is the easier city. Albuquerque can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Albuquerque and Arlington are about even on school scores.

Albuquerque

A- · 84/100

Arlington

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Albuquerque, A- in Arlington). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

33% more comfortable

Albuquerque weather is 33% more comfortable than Arlington

Albuquerque

Winner

86°F typical

Arlington

92°F typical

What this means for your life

Albuquerque scores 33% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 86°F in Albuquerque and 92°F in Arlington. Albuquerque reads as hot, long summers; Arlington reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Albuquerque is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Arlington can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Albuquerque

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 15% cheaper here at about $1,464 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 (86°F) beat Arlington on this page's weather index by 33%. Arlington may pay more or cost less, but Albuquerque is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Open the Albuquerque report →

Fit check

Who should choose Arlington

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Arlington is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 17% higher here ($71,736). Start with Arlington if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Arlington is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 39% lower than Albuquerque (109 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.

Open the Arlington report →

Bottom line

Albuquerque vs Arlington, called

If safety is your priority, Arlington is the clear choice.

If weather matters more to you, Albuquerque pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Albuquerque offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Albuquerque vs Arlington FAQ

Is Albuquerque cheaper than Arlington?: Yes. Typical rent in Albuquerque is $1,464 a month versus $1,723 in Arlington — 15% cheaper. Median household income is $61,503 in Albuquerque compared with $71,736 in Arlington, so Arlington has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Albuquerque or Arlington?: Arlington is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 179 in Albuquerque — 39% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Albuquerque or Arlington?: School composites are close: A- in Albuquerque and A- in Arlington. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

Ready to move to Albuquerque?

Find apartments →Get a mortgage rate →

Next steps