City comparison
Albuquerque, NM vs Lakeland, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Lakeland, FL are 1.7% higher than in Albuquerque, NM. Someone earning $100,000 in Albuquerque, NM would need about $101,700 in Lakeland, FL to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,185 a month in Albuquerque, NM and $1,230 in Lakeland, FL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,569 a year higher in Albuquerque, NM than in Lakeland, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.1% moving from Albuquerque, NM to Lakeland, FL ($107,592 → $106,437), while prices change by +1.7%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.7% in real buying power.
- Albuquerque, NM: price level 95.5 (cheaper)
- Lakeland, FL: price level 97.1 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albuquerque, NM | Lakeland, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.5 | 97.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,669 in Lakeland | $98,358 in Albuquerque |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,185/mo | $1,230/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,611 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,569 (NM) | $0 (FL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,060 | $46,140 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Albuquerque, NM MSA and Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL MSA. Metro areas: Albuquerque, NM and Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albuquerque | Lakeland |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 89.2 | 95.9 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 77.9 | 86.9 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 95.5 | 97.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albuquerque, NM → Lakeland, FL
Roughly even
Buying power −1.6%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$3,569/yr.
64 Fair offer
Lakeland, FL → Albuquerque, NM
Roughly even
Buying power +1.7%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$3,569/yr.
74 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albuquerque, NM is in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM pay area; Lakeland, FL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Albuquerque, NM to Lakeland, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albuquerque, NM | Lakeland, FL | Real change, Albuquerque → Lakeland |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,392 | $61,722 | −2.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,489 | $74,678 | −2.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,479 | $89,508 | −2.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,592 | $106,437 | −2.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,141 | $125,776 | −2.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albuquerque, NM | Lakeland, FL | Lakeland pay in Albuquerque dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $75,520 | $50,420 | $49,592 (−34.3%) |
| Software Developers | $123,700 | $122,200 | $120,194 (−2.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,880 | $76,820 | $75,559 (−5.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,040 | $84,030 | $82,650 (−13.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.