City comparison
Albuquerque, NM vs Des Moines, IA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Albuquerque, NM are 4.2% higher than in Des Moines, IA. Someone earning $100,000 in Des Moines, IA would need about $104,200 in Albuquerque, NM to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,185 a month in Albuquerque, NM versus $1,109 in Des Moines, IA. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Albuquerque, NM and 18% in Des Moines, IA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $421 a year higher in Albuquerque, NM than in Des Moines, IA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.3% moving from Albuquerque, NM to Des Moines, IA ($107,592 → $107,301), while prices change by −4.0%. Net effect of the transfer: +3.9% in real buying power.
- Albuquerque, NM: price level 95.5 (cheaper)
- Des Moines, IA: price level 91.7 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albuquerque, NM | Des Moines, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.5 | 91.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,976 in Des Moines | $104,193 in Albuquerque |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,185/mo | $1,109/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,611 | $76,032 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,569 (NM) | $3,148 (IA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,060 | $51,820 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM | Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA |
Rent areas: Albuquerque, NM MSA and Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Albuquerque, NM and Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albuquerque | Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 89.2 | 84.7 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 93.7 |
| Utilities | 77.9 | 84.6 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 92.9 |
| Overall | 95.5 | 91.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albuquerque, NM → Des Moines, IA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.2%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$421/yr.
82 Strong offer
Des Moines, IA → Albuquerque, NM
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.0%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$421/yr.
56 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albuquerque, NM is in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM pay area; Des Moines, IA is in Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA. The last column shows what a transfer from Albuquerque, NM to Des Moines, IA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albuquerque, NM | Des Moines, IA | Real change, Albuquerque → Des Moines |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,392 | $62,223 | +3.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,489 | $75,284 | +3.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,479 | $90,234 | +3.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,592 | $107,301 | +3.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,141 | $126,797 | +3.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albuquerque, NM | Des Moines, IA | Des Moines pay in Albuquerque dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $75,520 | $61,650 | $64,235 (−14.9%) |
| Software Developers | $123,700 | $126,460 | $131,762 (+6.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,880 | $79,290 | $82,615 (+3.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,040 | $78,630 | $81,927 (−14.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.