City comparison
Albuquerque, NM vs Visalia, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Visalia, CA are 4.5% higher than in Albuquerque, NM. Someone earning $100,000 in Albuquerque, NM would need about $104,500 in Visalia, CA to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,185 a month in Albuquerque, NM versus $1,123 in Visalia, CA. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Albuquerque, NM and 18% in Visalia, CA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,501 a year higher in Visalia, CA than in Albuquerque, NM.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.6% moving from Albuquerque, NM to Visalia, CA ($107,592 → $106,973), while prices change by +4.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.8% in real buying power.
- Albuquerque, NM: price level 95.5 (cheaper)
- Visalia, CA: price level 99.8 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albuquerque, NM | Visalia, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.5 | 99.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,478 in Visalia | $95,713 in Albuquerque |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,185/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,611 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,569 (NM) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,060 | $45,130 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA |
Rent areas: Albuquerque, NM MSA and Visalia, CA MSA. Metro areas: Albuquerque, NM and Visalia, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albuquerque | Visalia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 89.2 | 84.1 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 77.9 | 156.4 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 95.5 | 99.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albuquerque, NM → Visalia, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.3%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$1,501/yr.
55 Fair offer
Visalia, CA → Albuquerque, NM
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.5%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$1,501/yr.
83 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albuquerque, NM is in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM pay area; Visalia, CA is in Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from Albuquerque, NM to Visalia, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albuquerque, NM | Visalia, CA | Real change, Albuquerque → Visalia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,392 | $62,033 | −4.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,489 | $75,055 | −4.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,479 | $89,959 | −4.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,592 | $106,973 | −4.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,141 | $126,410 | −4.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albuquerque, NM | Visalia, CA | Visalia pay in Albuquerque dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $75,520 | $98,430 | $94,211 (+24.7%) |
| Software Developers | $123,700 | $126,170 | $120,762 (−2.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,880 | $79,400 | $75,997 (−4.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,040 | $125,180 | $119,814 (+24.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.