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Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP

Albuquerque, NM

Cost-of-living indicators for Albuquerque, NM, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.

Reviewed byPlaincost Editorial, Cost Of Living Editorial Team · June 9, 2026

95.5
Overall RPP: #155
of 387 metros: 89.2
Rents RPP: $105K
$100K national buys

The verdict

Albuquerque costs less than 40% of U.S. metros — an overall index of 95.5, 4.5% below the national average, with services the biggest swing at 77.9.

95.5
overall cost index (US average = 100): #155
most expensive of 387 U.S. metros: bottom 60%
by overall cost, nationwide: 89.2
rents RPP — the biggest budget swing

A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $104,662 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $95,546.

What the Numbers Mean for Albuquerque

Albuquerque ranks #155 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the upper half by cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 95.5, Albuquerque, NM is 4.5% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Albuquerque's most and least expensive categories — the priciest line item versus services at 77.9 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.

Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $104,662 inside Albuquerque, while a household needs roughly $95,546 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 89.2 — 10.8% below the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.

Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Albuquerque's overall index has stayed within 1.4 points, holding steady versus other U.S. metros. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 96.1 and services at 77.9, meaning everyday spending in Albuquerque is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.

Albuquerque vs every U.S. metro

Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution

96 Top 40% higher than 60% of 387 US metros

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024

Rents

89.2
Services

77.9
Overall

95.5
Goods

96.1

What this shows Albuquerque's gap from the national average is led by services at 77.9. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.

Goods vs. housing — where Albuquerque's cost comes from

Metros near Albuquerque's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.

Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 96.1, rents 87.2). Albuquerque is pricier than its peers on both housing and goods. These metros sit near Albuquerque's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.

Price Index Summary

Overall

95.5

-4.5 below avg

Goods

96.1

-3.9 below avg

Services

77.9

-22.1 below avg

Rents

89.2

-10.8 below avg

Salary Equivalent

A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:

$95,546

in Albuquerque, NM purchasing power

$50,000 nationally

$47,773

$75,000 nationally

$71,660

$125,000 nationally

$119,433

$150,000 nationally

$143,319

$200,000 nationally

$191,092

Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.

RPP History (2008-2024)

The cost of living has remained relatively stable, changing by only 1.4 points over this period.

Year	Overall	Goods	Services	Rents
2008	97.0	95.8	85.1	96.5
2009	99.0	101.3	82.3	91.6
2010	97.4	97.3	92.1	90.9
2011	100.4	98.5	94.5	96.8
2012	99.6	99.9	96.8	91.2
2013	98.3	98.1	94.9	92.9
2014	98.5	96.8	100.9	93.9
2015	96.8	96.1	98.1	88.4
2016	96.6	95.0	91.4	91.6
2017	98.1	100.1	90.8	90.0
2018	93.9	96.2	81.3	86.3
2019	95.1	99.3	80.4	83.0
2020	94.2	97.0	83.5	86.2
2021	92.1	96.8	81.2	84.4
2022	93.4	97.7	83.1	88.7
2023	93.6	97.4	77.7	88.7
2024	95.5	96.1	77.9	89.2

Metros with Similar Cost of Living

These metros have an overall RPP closest to Albuquerque, NM's index of 95.5.

Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI 95.5 Yakima, WA 95.5 Grand Junction, CO 95.5 Salisbury, MD 95.6 Columbus, OH 95.5 Helena, MT 95.7

Other NM Metros

Santa Fe 98.8 Las Cruces 90.2 Farmington 87.7

View all NM metros →

Compare to Other Metros

vs New York-Newark-Jersey City vs Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim vs Chicago-Naperville-Elgin vs Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington vs Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands Custom Compare →

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Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough

View all guides →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Albuquerque, NM? ▼

Albuquerque, NM has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 95.5, meaning it is 4.5% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 96.1, services at 77.9, and rents at 89.2. It ranks #155 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.

What salary do I need in Albuquerque, NM to match $100K nationally? ▼

To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $95,546 in Albuquerque, NM. Conversely, $100K earned in Albuquerque, NM has the purchasing power of $104,662 at the national average.

How expensive is rent in Albuquerque, NM? ▼

Rents in Albuquerque, NM are indexed at 89.2, which is 10.8% below the national average. This makes the area relatively affordable for renters.

Is Albuquerque, NM getting more expensive? ▼

From 2008 to 2024, Albuquerque, NM's overall cost index changed by -1.4 points (from 97.0 to 95.5). The cost of living has remained relatively stable.

What metros have a similar cost of living to Albuquerque, NM? ▼

Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, Yakima, Grand Junction. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Albuquerque, NM's 95.5.

Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.

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Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Federal data behind these figures

BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr