City comparison
Albuquerque, NM vs Columbus, OH
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Albuquerque, NM (95.5) and Columbus, OH (95.5, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Albuquerque, NM goes as far as $99,900 in Columbus, OH.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,185 a month in Albuquerque, NM and $1,194 in Columbus, OH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,601 a year higher in Albuquerque, NM than in Columbus, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +3.2% moving from Albuquerque, NM to Columbus, OH ($107,592 → $111,065), while prices change by −0.1%. Net effect of the transfer: +3.3% in real buying power.
- Albuquerque, NM: price level 95.5 (cheaper)
- Columbus, OH: 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
| Albuquerque, NM | Columbus, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.5 | 95.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,919 in Columbus | $100,081 in Albuquerque |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,185/mo | $1,194/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,611 | $77,212 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,569 (NM) | $1,968 (OH) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,060 | $51,340 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM | Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH |
Rent areas: Albuquerque, NM MSA and Columbus, OH HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Albuquerque, NM and Columbus, OH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albuquerque | Columbus |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 89.2 | 87.9 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 77.9 | 95.5 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 95.5 | 95.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albuquerque, NM → Columbus, OH
Roughly even
Buying power +0.1%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$1,601/yr.
69 Fair offer
Columbus, OH → Albuquerque, NM
Roughly even
Buying power −0.1%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$1,601/yr.
68 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albuquerque, NM is in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM pay area; Columbus, OH is in Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH. The last column shows what a transfer from Albuquerque, NM to Columbus, OH at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albuquerque, NM | Columbus, OH | Real change, Albuquerque → Columbus |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,392 | $64,406 | +3.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,489 | $77,926 | +3.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,479 | $93,400 | +3.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,592 | $111,065 | +3.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,141 | $131,245 | +3.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albuquerque, NM | Columbus, OH | Columbus pay in Albuquerque dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $75,520 | $78,150 | $78,213 (+3.6%) |
| Software Developers | $123,700 | $122,340 | $122,439 (−1.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,880 | $81,700 | $81,766 (+2.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,040 | $83,900 | $83,968 (−12.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.