Studio Rent · July 2026

Studio Apartment Rent in Albuquerque, NM

$949/mo

Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Albuquerque, New Mexico as of July 2026. That's +36% lower than the citywide median of $1,486 and +26% below the national studio median of $1,290.

Studio median
$949
July 2026
vs city overall
-36%
$1,486 city median
vs national
-26%
$1,290 US median
New Mexico rank
#11
of 15 cities

Income needed for a studio in Albuquerque

Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a studio at the current median rent.

Annual income
$37,960
Monthly gross
$3,163
Hourly (full-time)
$18.25

Rent by apartment size in Albuquerque

Compare Albuquerque's median rent across every apartment size.

Studio (current)
$949
1-Bedroom
$1,128
2-Bedroom
$1,383
3-Bedroom
$1,939
4+ Bedroom
$2,297

Cheapest cities for a studio in New Mexico

#CityStudio rent
1Alamogordo$640
2Clovis$670
3Portales$680
4Roswell$750
5Silver City$770
6Carlsbad$790
7Las Cruces$800
8Santa Teresa$800
9Hobbs$810
10Farmington$890
11Albuquerque (this page)$949
12Los Lunas$970
13Los Alamos$990
14Rio Rancho$1,165
15Santa Fe$1,283

Most expensive cities for a studio in New Mexico

#CityStudio rent
1Santa Fe$1,283
2Rio Rancho$1,165
3Los Alamos$990
4Los Lunas$970
5Albuquerque (this page)$949
6Farmington$890
7Hobbs$810
8Santa Teresa$800
9Las Cruces$800
10Carlsbad$790
11Silver City$770
12Roswell$750
13Portales$680
14Clovis$670
15Alamogordo$640

Nearby cities — studio rent

Considering nearby alternatives? 2 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than Albuquerque.

CityDistanceStudio rentvs Albuquerque
Rio Rancho, NM15.6 mi$1,165+$216 (+23%)
Los Lunas, NM40.3 mi$970+$21 (+2%)
Los Alamos, NM55 mi$990+$41 (+4%)
Santa Fe, NM59.1 mi$1,283+$334 (+35%)
Farmington, NM155.8 mi$890$-59 (-6%)
Roswell, NM183.5 mi$750$-199 (-21%)

Studio rent in Albuquerque — common questions

How much is a studio apartment in Albuquerque?

As of July 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Albuquerque, New Mexico is $949 per month. This is +36% below the citywide median of $1,486.

What income do you need to afford a studio in Albuquerque?

Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $37,960 ($3,163/month gross), which works out to roughly $18.25/hour at a full-time job.

Is Albuquerque expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?

Albuquerque's studio median of $949 is +26% below the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 23th percentile of US cities tracked.

How does Albuquerque rank for studio rent in New Mexico?

Among the 15 cities in New Mexico with studio data, Albuquerque ranks #11 from cheapest to most expensive.

Are there cheaper studio options near Albuquerque?

Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include Farmington ($890), Roswell ($750).

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Methodology: Bedroom-level rent medians come from HUD Fair Market Rent data calibrated to the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) for Albuquerque, which serves as the citywide anchor. When the HUD bedroom values exceed the ZORI city median (a common quirk in luxury markets and small samples), bedroom values are proportionally scaled down to align. Income required uses the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline. Comparison rankings use the same data month across all cities (July 2026) and exclude cities with median rent below $400 or above $20,000.