City comparison
Albuquerque, NM vs Memphis, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Albuquerque, NM are 3.7% higher than in Memphis, TN. Someone earning $100,000 in Memphis, TN would need about $103,700 in Albuquerque, NM to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,185 a month in Albuquerque, NM and $1,154 in Memphis, TN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,569 a year higher in Albuquerque, NM than in Memphis, TN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.1% moving from Albuquerque, NM to Memphis, TN ($107,592 → $106,437), while prices change by −3.5%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.5% in real buying power.
- Albuquerque, NM: price level 95.5 (cheaper)
- Memphis, TN: price level 92.2 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albuquerque, NM | Memphis, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.5 | 92.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,476 in Memphis | $103,653 in Albuquerque |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,185/mo | $1,154/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,611 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,569 (NM) | $0 (TN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,060 | $46,890 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Albuquerque, NM MSA and Memphis, TN-MS-AR HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Albuquerque, NM and Memphis, TN-MS-AR.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albuquerque | Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 89.2 | 79.8 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 77.9 | 74.1 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 95.4 |
| Overall | 95.5 | 92.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albuquerque, NM → Memphis, TN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.7%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$3,569/yr.
80 Strong offer
Memphis, TN → Albuquerque, NM
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.5%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$3,569/yr.
58 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albuquerque, NM is in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM pay area; Memphis, TN is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Albuquerque, NM to Memphis, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albuquerque, NM | Memphis, TN | Real change, Albuquerque → Memphis |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,392 | $61,722 | +2.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,489 | $74,678 | +2.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,479 | $89,508 | +2.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,592 | $106,437 | +2.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,141 | $125,776 | +2.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albuquerque, NM | Memphis, TN | Memphis pay in Albuquerque dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $75,520 | $61,510 | $63,757 (−15.6%) |
| Software Developers | $123,700 | $125,580 | $130,167 (+5.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,880 | $76,960 | $79,771 (−0.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,040 | $81,500 | $84,477 (−12.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.