City comparison
Albuquerque, NM vs Utica, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Albuquerque, NM are 3.1% higher than in Utica, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Utica, NY would need about $103,100 in Albuquerque, NM to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,185 a month in Albuquerque, NM versus $926 in Utica, NY. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Albuquerque, NM and 15% in Utica, NY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,291 a year higher in Utica, NY than in Albuquerque, NM.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.1% moving from Albuquerque, NM to Utica, NY ($107,592 → $106,437), while prices change by −3.0%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.0% in real buying power.
- Albuquerque, NM: price level 95.5 (cheaper)
- Utica, NY: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albuquerque, NM | Utica, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.5 | 92.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,998 in Utica | $103,095 in Albuquerque |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,185/mo | $926/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,611 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,569 (NM) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,060 | $48,970 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Albuquerque, NM MSA and Utica-Rome, NY MSA. Metro areas: Albuquerque, NM and Utica-Rome, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albuquerque | Utica |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 89.2 | 66.1 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 77.9 | 131.9 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 95.5 | 92.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albuquerque, NM → Utica, NY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.1%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$1,291/yr.
78 Strong offer
Utica, NY → Albuquerque, NM
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.0%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$1,291/yr.
59 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albuquerque, NM is in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM pay area; Utica, NY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Albuquerque, NM to Utica, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albuquerque, NM | Utica, NY | Real change, Albuquerque → Utica |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,392 | $61,722 | +2.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,489 | $74,678 | +2.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,479 | $89,508 | +2.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,592 | $106,437 | +2.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,141 | $125,776 | +2.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albuquerque, NM | Utica, NY | Utica pay in Albuquerque dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $75,520 | $77,010 | $79,393 (+5.1%) |
| Software Developers | $123,700 | $113,390 | $116,899 (−5.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,880 | $79,830 | $82,300 (+3.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,040 | $94,300 | $97,218 (+1.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.