City comparison
Albuquerque, NM vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Albuquerque, NM (95.5) and Wilmington, NC (96.4, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Albuquerque, NM goes as far as $100,900 in Wilmington, NC.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,513 a month in Wilmington, NC versus $1,185 in Albuquerque, NM. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Wilmington, NC and 19% in Albuquerque, NM.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,569 a year in NM and $3,481 in NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.1% moving from Albuquerque, NM to Wilmington, NC ($107,592 → $106,437), while prices change by +0.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.0% in real buying power.
- Albuquerque, NM: price level 95.5 (cheaper)
- Wilmington, NC: price level 96.4 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albuquerque, NM | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.5 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,917 in Wilmington | $99,091 in Albuquerque |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,185/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,611 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,569 (NM) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,060 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Albuquerque, NM MSA and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Albuquerque, NM and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albuquerque | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 89.2 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 77.9 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 95.5 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albuquerque, NM → Wilmington, NC
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$88/yr.
66 Fair offer
Wilmington, NC → Albuquerque, NM
Roughly even
Buying power +0.9%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$88/yr.
72 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albuquerque, NM is in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM pay area; Wilmington, NC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Albuquerque, NM to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albuquerque, NM | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Albuquerque → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,392 | $61,722 | −2.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,489 | $74,678 | −2.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,479 | $89,508 | −2.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,592 | $106,437 | −2.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,141 | $125,776 | −2.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albuquerque, NM | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Albuquerque dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $75,520 | $48,240 | $47,802 (−36.7%) |
| Software Developers | $123,700 | $123,730 | $122,606 (−0.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,880 | $77,920 | $77,212 (−3.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,040 | $80,970 | $80,234 (−16.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.