City comparison
Albuquerque, NM vs New Orleans, LA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Albuquerque, NM are 3.2% higher than in New Orleans, LA. Someone earning $100,000 in New Orleans, LA would need about $103,200 in Albuquerque, NM to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,185 a month in Albuquerque, NM versus $1,113 in New Orleans, LA. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Albuquerque, NM and 17% in New Orleans, LA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $955 a year higher in Albuquerque, NM than in New Orleans, LA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.1% moving from Albuquerque, NM to New Orleans, LA ($107,592 → $106,437), while prices change by −3.1%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.1% in real buying power.
- Albuquerque, NM: price level 95.5 (cheaper)
- New Orleans, LA: price level 92.6 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albuquerque, NM | New Orleans, LA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.5 | 92.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,914 in New Orleans | $103,185 in Albuquerque |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,185/mo | $1,113/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,611 | $76,566 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,569 (NM) | $2,614 (LA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,060 | $47,290 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Albuquerque, NM MSA and New Orleans-Metairie, LA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Albuquerque, NM and New Orleans-Metairie, LA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albuquerque | New Orleans |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 89.2 | 86.0 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 93.7 |
| Utilities | 77.9 | 71.2 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 95.7 |
| Overall | 95.5 | 92.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albuquerque, NM → New Orleans, LA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.2%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$955/yr.
79 Strong offer
New Orleans, LA → Albuquerque, NM
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.1%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$955/yr.
59 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albuquerque, NM is in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM pay area; New Orleans, LA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Albuquerque, NM to New Orleans, LA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albuquerque, NM | New Orleans, LA | Real change, Albuquerque → New Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,392 | $61,722 | +2.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,489 | $74,678 | +2.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,479 | $89,508 | +2.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,592 | $106,437 | +2.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,141 | $125,776 | +2.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albuquerque, NM | New Orleans, LA | New Orleans pay in Albuquerque dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $75,520 | $60,350 | $62,272 (−17.5%) |
| Software Developers | $123,700 | $106,950 | $110,356 (−10.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,880 | $77,940 | $80,422 (+0.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,040 | $81,850 | $84,457 (−12.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.