City comparison
Albuquerque, NM vs Kansas City, MO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Albuquerque, NM are 3.2% higher than in Kansas City, MO. Someone earning $100,000 in Kansas City, MO would need about $103,200 in Albuquerque, NM to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,185 a month in Albuquerque, NM and $1,197 in Kansas City, MO.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,569 a year in NM and $3,763 in MO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.5% moving from Albuquerque, NM to Kansas City, MO ($107,592 → $108,173), while prices change by −3.1%. Net effect of the transfer: +3.8% in real buying power.
- Albuquerque, NM: price level 95.5 (cheaper)
- Kansas City, MO: price level 92.5 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albuquerque, NM | Kansas City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.5 | 92.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,857 in Kansas City | $103,245 in Albuquerque |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,185/mo | $1,197/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,611 | $75,417 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,569 (NM) | $3,763 (MO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,060 | $50,820 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM | Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS |
Rent areas: Albuquerque, NM MSA and Kansas City, MO-KS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Albuquerque, NM and Kansas City, MO-KS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albuquerque | Kansas City |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 89.2 | 86.6 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 94.1 |
| Utilities | 77.9 | 89.0 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 93.4 |
| Overall | 95.5 | 92.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albuquerque, NM → Kansas City, MO
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.2%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$194/yr.
79 Strong offer
Kansas City, MO → Albuquerque, NM
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.1%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$194/yr.
59 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albuquerque, NM is in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM pay area; Kansas City, MO is in Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS. The last column shows what a transfer from Albuquerque, NM to Kansas City, MO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albuquerque, NM | Kansas City, MO | Real change, Albuquerque → Kansas City |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,392 | $62,729 | +3.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,489 | $75,897 | +3.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,479 | $90,968 | +3.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,592 | $108,173 | +3.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,141 | $127,829 | +3.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albuquerque, NM | Kansas City, MO | Kansas City pay in Albuquerque dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $75,520 | $61,060 | $63,041 (−16.5%) |
| Software Developers | $123,700 | $124,990 | $129,046 (+4.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,880 | $80,040 | $82,637 (+3.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,040 | $83,040 | $85,735 (−10.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.