City comparison
Albuquerque, NM vs Peoria, IL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Albuquerque, NM are 4.7% higher than in Peoria, IL. Someone earning $100,000 in Peoria, IL would need about $104,700 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 $818 in Peoria, IL. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Albuquerque, NM and 13% in Peoria, IL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,236 a year higher in Peoria, IL than in Albuquerque, NM.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.1% moving from Albuquerque, NM to Peoria, IL ($107,592 → $106,437), while prices change by −4.5%. Net effect of the transfer: +3.6% in real buying power.
- Albuquerque, NM: price level 95.5 (cheaper)
- Peoria, IL: price level 91.2 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albuquerque, NM | Peoria, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.5 | 91.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,484 in Peoria | $104,730 in Albuquerque |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,185/mo | $818/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,611 | $74,375 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,569 (NM) | $4,805 (IL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 13% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,060 | $49,590 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Albuquerque, NM MSA and Peoria, IL MSA. Metro areas: Albuquerque, NM and Peoria, IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albuquerque | Peoria |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 89.2 | 63.8 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 77.9 | 90.5 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 95.5 | 91.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albuquerque, NM → Peoria, IL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.7%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax +$1,236/yr.
84 Strong offer
Peoria, IL → Albuquerque, NM
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.5%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$1,236/yr.
55 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albuquerque, NM is in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM pay area; Peoria, IL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Albuquerque, NM to Peoria, IL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albuquerque, NM | Peoria, IL | Real change, Albuquerque → Peoria |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,392 | $61,722 | +3.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,489 | $74,678 | +3.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,479 | $89,508 | +3.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,592 | $106,437 | +3.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,141 | $125,776 | +3.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albuquerque, NM | Peoria, IL | Peoria pay in Albuquerque dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $75,520 | $57,440 | $60,157 (−20.3%) |
| Software Developers | $123,700 | $130,590 | $136,767 (+10.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,880 | $79,540 | $83,302 (+4.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,040 | $81,010 | $84,842 (−11.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.