Head to head
Albuquerque, NM vs Indianapolis, IN
Albuquerque is cheaper — estimated essentials for a single person run about $101/mo less, and living comfortably there takes roughly $4,000 less in annual salary (taxes included).
It flips for a family. For two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child, Indianapolis is the cheaper of the two — rent scales to household size using each city's own bedroom spread, and childcare varies even more sharply between cities than rent does.
| Metric | Albuquerque59 | Indianapolis65 |
|---|---|---|
| Est. monthly cost (single) | $3,812 | $3,913 |
| Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare) | $9,075 | $9,028 |
| Salary for comfort | $69,000/yr | $73,000/yr |
| Typical rent | $1,464 | $1,473 |
| Median home value | $266,700 | $207,000 |
| Median household income | $65,604 | $62,995 |
| Unemployment | 4.7% | 3.7% |
| Housing score | 59 | 67 |
| Jobs score | 25 | 71 |
| Safety score | 33 | 23 |
| Climate score | 100 | 92 |
| Amenities score | 40 | 48 |
| Population | 562.5K | 882K |
| Summer high / winter low | 90° / 26° | 85° / 21° |
Fit scores use the reference profile (single, $6,700/mo gross, default weights). Green marks the better value per row.
Albuquerque, NM
Indianapolis, IN