City comparison
Albuquerque, NM vs Chattanooga, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Albuquerque, NM are 4.5% higher than in Chattanooga, TN. Someone earning $100,000 in Chattanooga, TN would need about $104,500 in Albuquerque, NM to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,263 a month in Chattanooga, TN versus $1,185 in Albuquerque, NM. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Chattanooga, TN and 19% in Albuquerque, NM.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,569 a year higher in Albuquerque, NM than in Chattanooga, TN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.1% moving from Albuquerque, NM to Chattanooga, TN ($107,592 → $106,437), while prices change by −4.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +3.3% in real buying power.
- Albuquerque, NM: price level 95.5 (cheaper)
- Chattanooga, TN: price level 91.5 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albuquerque, NM | Chattanooga, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.5 | 91.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,728 in Chattanooga | $104,463 in Albuquerque |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,185/mo | $1,263/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,611 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,569 (NM) | $0 (TN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,060 | $46,700 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Albuquerque, NM MSA and Chattanooga, TN-GA MSA. Metro areas: Albuquerque, NM and Chattanooga, TN-GA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albuquerque | Chattanooga |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 89.2 | 76.5 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 96.0 |
| Utilities | 77.9 | 74.2 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 95.3 |
| Overall | 95.5 | 91.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albuquerque, NM → Chattanooga, TN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.5%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$3,569/yr.
83 Strong offer
Chattanooga, TN → Albuquerque, NM
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.3%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$3,569/yr.
55 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albuquerque, NM is in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM pay area; Chattanooga, TN is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Albuquerque, NM to Chattanooga, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albuquerque, NM | Chattanooga, TN | Real change, Albuquerque → Chattanooga |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,392 | $61,722 | +3.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,489 | $74,678 | +3.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,479 | $89,508 | +3.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,592 | $106,437 | +3.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,141 | $125,776 | +3.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albuquerque, NM | Chattanooga, TN | Chattanooga pay in Albuquerque dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $75,520 | $59,830 | $62,500 (−17.2%) |
| Software Developers | $123,700 | $106,750 | $111,514 (−9.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,880 | $76,680 | $80,102 (+0.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,040 | $79,770 | $83,330 (−13.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.