City comparison
Albuquerque, NM vs Spartanburg, SC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Albuquerque, NM are 4.9% higher than in Spartanburg, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Spartanburg, SC would need about $104,900 in Albuquerque, NM to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,185 a month in Albuquerque, NM versus $1,083 in Spartanburg, SC. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Albuquerque, NM and 17% in Spartanburg, SC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,274 a year higher in Spartanburg, SC than in Albuquerque, NM.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.1% moving from Albuquerque, NM to Spartanburg, SC ($107,592 → $106,437), while prices change by −4.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +3.8% in real buying power.
- Albuquerque, NM: price level 95.5 (cheaper)
- Spartanburg, SC: price level 91.1 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albuquerque, NM | Spartanburg, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.5 | 91.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,295 in Spartanburg | $104,937 in Albuquerque |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,185/mo | $1,083/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,611 | $74,337 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,569 (NM) | $4,843 (SC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,060 | $47,650 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Albuquerque, NM MSA and Spartanburg, SC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Albuquerque, NM and Spartanburg, SC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albuquerque | Spartanburg |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 89.2 | 68.0 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 77.9 | 88.3 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 98.3 |
| Overall | 95.5 | 91.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albuquerque, NM → Spartanburg, SC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.9%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$1,274/yr.
84 Strong offer
Spartanburg, SC → Albuquerque, NM
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.7%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$1,274/yr.
54 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albuquerque, NM is in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM pay area; Spartanburg, SC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Albuquerque, NM to Spartanburg, SC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albuquerque, NM | Spartanburg, SC | Real change, Albuquerque → Spartanburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,392 | $61,722 | +3.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,489 | $74,678 | +3.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,479 | $89,508 | +3.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,592 | $106,437 | +3.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,141 | $125,776 | +3.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albuquerque, NM | Spartanburg, SC | Spartanburg pay in Albuquerque dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $75,520 | $60,990 | $64,001 (−15.3%) |
| Software Developers | $123,700 | $114,460 | $120,111 (−2.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,880 | $77,080 | $80,885 (+1.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,040 | $82,360 | $86,426 (−10.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.