Cost of Living in Albuquerque, NM (2026)

Albuquerque's cost of living is 4% below the US average. $100,000 here is worth about $104,662 nationally. Rent, homes and monthly costs.

Albuquerque has a cost-of-living index of 96 against a US average of 100 — about 4% below average. $100,000 of income here is worth roughly $104,662 at the national average.

What it costs to live in Albuquerque

MeasureAlbuquerqueUS average
Cost-of-living index96100
Median rent$1,085/mo-
Median home value$266,700-
Median household income$65,604-
Population562,488-

Monthly cost breakdown in Albuquerque

Estimates use BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey shares scaled by the local cost-of-living index. Housing uses the city’s median rent; the owning column uses a 30-year mortgage at 6.7% with 10% down on the median home.

CategoryRentingOwning
Housing$1,085$1,549
Transport$857$857
Food$674$674
Healthcare$423$423
Other$1,504$1,504
Total$4,543$5,007

Affordability in Albuquerque

Median rent takes about 19.8% of the median household income in Albuquerque — comfortably inside the 30% rule of thumb.

The median home costs 4.1x the median household income. Three times income is the traditional comfort line; five times is where affordability usually breaks down.

Highest-paying roles in Albuquerque

RoleTypical salaryWorth nationally
Mechanical Engineer$133,660$139,891
Software Developer$128,770$134,773
Marketing Manager$116,650$122,088
Physical Therapist$99,670$104,316
Registered Nurse$83,380$87,267
Data Scientist$82,360$86,199
Financial Analyst$80,900$84,671
Web Developer$80,431$84,180

“Worth nationally” adjusts each salary for Albuquerque’s cost of living, so you can compare offers between cities on equal terms.

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Frequently asked questions

Albuquerque has a cost-of-living index of 96 against a US average of 100, so it is about 4% below the national average. In practical terms, $100,000 of income in Albuquerque has roughly the purchasing power of $104,662 at the national average.

A common benchmark is keeping rent at or under 30% of gross income. At Albuquerque's median rent of $1,085/month that implies about $43,400 a year before tax. The median household in Albuquerque earns $65,604.

Renting, a single household spends roughly $4,543 a month in Albuquerque across housing, transport, food, healthcare and everything else. Buying at the median home price, the estimate is about $5,007 a month including a 30-year mortgage at 6.7% with 10% down.

The median home in Albuquerque costs $266,700, which is 4.1x the median household income of $65,604. Lenders traditionally treat 3x as comfortable and about 5x as stretched, so Albuquerque is manageable but tight.