Cost of Living in Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque, NM — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Albuquerque, NM to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Albuquerque, NM?
With a price level of 95.5 (U.S. average = 100), Albuquerque, NM is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 11% below average; everyday goods are 4% below average; utilities are 22% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in utilities.
Prices in Albuquerque, NM vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 95.5 | −4.5% |
| Housing | 89.2 | −10.8% |
| Goods | 96.1 | −3.9% |
| Utilities | 77.9 | −22.1% |
| Other services | 98.5 | −1.5% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Albuquerque, NM
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,009 | $40,360/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,185 | $47,400/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,464 | $58,560/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,036 | $81,440/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,399 | $95,960/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Albuquerque, NM
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Albuquerque, NM | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $38,200 | $32,198 |
| $60,000 | $57,300 | $46,693 |
| $80,000 | $76,400 | $60,152 |
| $100,000 | $95,500 | $72,666 |
| $150,000 | $143,300 | $103,521 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, New Mexico 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Albuquerque, NM's median wage of $48,060 takes home about $3,308 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,185, which is 36% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,123 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Albuquerque, NM
- Federal income tax$3,587
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,980
- Medicare (1.45%)$697
- New Mexico income tax$1,099
- Take-home pay$39,697
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.30% state
Highest-paying jobs in Albuquerque, NM
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in New Mexico cities
Half of New Mexico’s 870,970 workers earn less than $47,210 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $35,260–$75,030 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Farmington, NM stretches a paycheck furthest, while Las Cruces, NM is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | $48,060 | 95.5 | $1,185 | 36% | $2,123 | $41,547 |
| Las Cruces, NM | $42,070 | 90.2 | $951 | 32% | $1,977 | $38,954 |
| Santa Fe, NM | $48,710 | 98.8 | $1,390 | 42% | $1,959 | $40,693 |
| Farmington, NM | $45,820 | 87.7 | $885 | 28% | $2,281 | $43,319 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Albuquerque, NM vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | 95.5 | $1,185 | $48,060 | 404,700 |
| Bridgeport, CT | 106.9 | $2,100 | $61,470 | 404,180 |
| Des Moines, IA | 91.7 | $1,092 | $51,820 | 404,130 |
| Madison, WI | 97.3 | $1,377 | $58,080 | 408,070 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 90.8 | $1,048 | $48,710 | 409,690 |
| Columbia, SC | 93.7 | $1,139 | $46,430 | 394,200 |
| Charleston, SC | 101.0 | $1,630 | $49,150 | 394,170 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Albuquerque, NM expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Albuquerque, NM metro area are 95.5% of the U.S. average, with housing at 89.2%. It is the #155 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Albuquerque, NM?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $57,328 in Albuquerque, NM (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $48,060.
Can you afford Albuquerque, NM on the median wage?
A single worker on the $48,060 median wage takes home about $3,308 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,185 would take 36% of that.
How much is rent in Albuquerque, NM?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Albuquerque, NM are $1,009 for a studio, $1,185 for one bedroom, $1,464 for two bedrooms and $2,036 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Albuquerque, NM
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $94,640
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $81,070
- Accountant and Auditor — $79,880
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $76,960
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $32,380
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $96,040
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $39,200
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $30,170
Protective Service Occupations
- Security Guard — $44,780
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,270
- Waiter and Waitress — $38,050
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,190
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,380
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,140
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $47,250
- Retail Salesperson — $34,160
- Cashier — $30,540
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $64,860
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $49,660
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $47,310
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $46,950
- Customer Service Representative — $41,790
- Office Clerks, General — $37,000
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $35,360
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- Electrician — $59,120
- Construction Laborer — $40,440
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $46,900
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $55,840
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $37,230
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,240