City comparison
Albany, NY vs Albuquerque, NM
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Albany, NY are 4.2% higher than in Albuquerque, NM. Someone earning $100,000 in Albuquerque, NM would need about $104,200 in Albany, NY to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,417 a month in Albany, NY versus $1,185 in Albuquerque, NM. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Albany, NY and 19% in Albuquerque, NM.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,291 a year higher in Albany, NY than in Albuquerque, NM.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.0% moving from Albany, NY to Albuquerque, NM ($109,810 → $107,592), while prices change by −4.0%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.1% in real buying power.
- Albany, NY: price level 99.6 (about average)
- Albuquerque, NM: price level 95.5 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albany, NY | Albuquerque, NM | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 99.6 | 95.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,962 in Albuquerque | $104,207 in Albany |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,417/mo | $1,185/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,320 | $75,611 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,860 (NY) | $3,569 (NM) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,460 | $48,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA | Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM |
Rent areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY MSA and Albuquerque, NM MSA. Metro areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY and Albuquerque, NM.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albany | Albuquerque |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 102.6 | 89.2 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 96.1 |
| Utilities | 134.0 | 77.9 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 98.5 |
| Overall | 99.6 | 95.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albany, NY → Albuquerque, NM
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.2%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$1,291/yr.
82 Strong offer
Albuquerque, NM → Albany, NY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.0%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$1,291/yr.
56 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albany, NY is in the Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA pay area; Albuquerque, NM is in Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM. The last column shows what a transfer from Albany, NY to Albuquerque, NM at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albany, NY | Albuquerque, NM | Real change, Albany → Albuquerque |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,678 | $62,392 | +2.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,045 | $75,489 | +2.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,344 | $90,479 | +2.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,810 | $107,592 | +2.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,763 | $127,141 | +2.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albany, NY | Albuquerque, NM | Albuquerque pay in Albany dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,240 | $75,520 | $78,697 (−0.7%) |
| Software Developers | $127,910 | $123,700 | $128,905 (+0.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,660 | $79,880 | $83,241 (−1.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,970 | $96,040 | $100,081 (+0.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.