Fresno vs Albuquerque: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Fresno, CA and Albuquerque, NM, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Albuquerque, NM |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 541,528 | 562,551 |
| Median household income | $63,001 | $61,503 |
| Median home value | $321,800 | $246,000 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,227 | $1,014 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Fresno, CA and Albuquerque, NM comes down to what you value most. Albuquerque has the lower median home value, and Albuquerque has the lower median rent.
Fresno has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Fresno or Albuquerque?
- By median home value, Albuquerque is the cheaper of the two ($246,000 vs $321,800). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Fresno or Albuquerque?
- Median household income is $63,001 in Fresno versus $61,503 in Albuquerque, per the US Census Bureau.