City comparison
Albuquerque, NM vs Ocala, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Albuquerque, NM (95.5) and Ocala, FL (95.2, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Albuquerque, NM goes as far as $99,700 in Ocala, FL.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,185 a month in Albuquerque, NM and $1,172 in Ocala, FL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,569 a year higher in Albuquerque, NM than in Ocala, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.1% moving from Albuquerque, NM to Ocala, FL ($107,592 → $106,437), while prices change by −0.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −0.7% in real buying power.
- Albuquerque, NM: price level 95.5 (cheaper)
- Ocala, FL: price level 95.2 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albuquerque, NM | Ocala, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.5 | 95.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,673 in Ocala | $100,328 in Albuquerque |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,185/mo | $1,172/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% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,060 | $43,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Albuquerque, NM MSA and Ocala, FL MSA. Metro areas: Albuquerque, NM and Ocala, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albuquerque | Ocala |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 89.2 | 86.2 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 77.9 | 87.1 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 95.5 | 95.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albuquerque, NM → Ocala, FL
Roughly even
Buying power +0.3%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$3,569/yr.
70 Fair offer
Ocala, FL → Albuquerque, NM
Roughly even
Buying power −0.3%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$3,569/yr.
68 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albuquerque, NM is in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM pay area; Ocala, FL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Albuquerque, NM to Ocala, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albuquerque, NM | Ocala, FL | Real change, Albuquerque → Ocala |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,392 | $61,722 | −0.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,489 | $74,678 | −0.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,479 | $89,508 | −0.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,592 | $106,437 | −0.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,141 | $125,776 | −0.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albuquerque, NM | Ocala, FL | Ocala pay in Albuquerque dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $75,520 | $57,540 | $57,729 (−23.6%) |
| Software Developers | $123,700 | $112,780 | $113,149 (−8.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,880 | $74,370 | $74,614 (−6.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,040 | $79,230 | $79,490 (−17.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.