City comparison
Albuquerque, NM vs Milwaukee, WI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 1.5% higher than in Albuquerque, NM. Someone earning $100,000 in Albuquerque, NM would need about $101,500 in Milwaukee, WI to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,185 a month in Albuquerque, NM versus $1,119 in Milwaukee, WI. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Albuquerque, NM and 18% in Milwaukee, WI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $350 a year higher in Milwaukee, WI than in Albuquerque, NM.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +3.5% moving from Albuquerque, NM to Milwaukee, WI ($107,592 → $111,310), while prices change by +1.5%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.0% in real buying power.
- Albuquerque, NM: price level 95.5 (cheaper)
- Milwaukee, WI: price level 96.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albuquerque, NM | Milwaukee, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.5 | 96.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,456 in Milwaukee | $98,565 in Albuquerque |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,185/mo | $1,119/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,611 | $75,261 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,569 (NM) | $3,919 (WI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,060 | $51,160 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM | Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI |
Rent areas: Albuquerque, NM MSA and Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI MSA. Metro areas: Albuquerque, NM and Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albuquerque | Milwaukee |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 89.2 | 97.1 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 77.9 | 91.6 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 99.4 |
| Overall | 95.5 | 96.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albuquerque, NM → Milwaukee, WI
Roughly even
Buying power −1.4%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$350/yr.
64 Fair offer
Milwaukee, WI → Albuquerque, NM
Roughly even
Buying power +1.5%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$350/yr.
73 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albuquerque, NM is in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM pay area; Milwaukee, WI is in Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI. The last column shows what a transfer from Albuquerque, NM to Milwaukee, WI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albuquerque, NM | Milwaukee, WI | Real change, Albuquerque → Milwaukee |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,392 | $64,548 | +2.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,489 | $78,098 | +2.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,479 | $93,606 | +2.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,592 | $111,310 | +2.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,141 | $131,535 | +2.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albuquerque, NM | Milwaukee, WI | Milwaukee pay in Albuquerque dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $75,520 | $61,480 | $60,598 (−19.8%) |
| Software Developers | $123,700 | $123,730 | $121,955 (−1.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,880 | $80,290 | $79,138 (−0.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,040 | $97,360 | $95,963 (−0.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.